diff --git a/src/core/recode.c b/src/core/recode.c
index d001a46a..d3fc91e7 100644
--- a/src/core/recode.c
+++ b/src/core/recode.c
@@ -198,7 +198,12 @@ char **recode_split(const SERVER_REC *server, const char *str,
 	int n = 0;
 	char **ret;
 
-	g_return_val_if_fail(str != NULL, NULL);
+	g_warn_if_fail(str != NULL);
+	if (str == NULL) {
+		ret = g_new(char *, 1);
+		ret[0] = NULL;
+		return ret;
+	}
 
 	if (settings_get_bool("recode")) {
 		to = find_conversion(server, target);
diff --git a/src/irc/core/irc-servers.c b/src/irc/core/irc-servers.c
index 3117e345..4eaab712 100644
--- a/src/irc/core/irc-servers.c
+++ b/src/irc/core/irc-servers.c
@@ -116,11 +116,14 @@ static char **split_line(const SERVER_REC *server, const char *line,
 	 * the code much simpler.  It's worth it.
 	 */
 	len -= strlen(recoded_start) + strlen(recoded_end);
+	g_warn_if_fail(len > 0);
 	if (len <= 0) {
 		/* There is no room for anything. */
 		g_free(recoded_start);
 		g_free(recoded_end);
-		return NULL;
+		lines = g_new(char *, 1);
+		lines[0] = NULL;
+		return lines;
 	}
 
 	lines = recode_split(server, line, target, len, onspace);