diff --git a/src/core/special-vars.c b/src/core/special-vars.c
index 4f68bc53..196a2cae 100644
--- a/src/core/special-vars.c
+++ b/src/core/special-vars.c
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ static char *get_argument(char **cmd, char **arglist)
 	arg = 0;
 	max = -1;
 
-	argcount = strarray_length(arglist);
+	argcount = arglist == NULL ? 0 : strarray_length(arglist);
 
 	if (**cmd == '*') {
 		/* get all arguments */