diff --git a/libexec/getty/main.c b/libexec/getty/main.c
index 20a5d9aafdac..aaff70ca3851 100644
--- a/libexec/getty/main.c
+++ b/libexec/getty/main.c
@@ -332,7 +332,7 @@ main(int argc, char *argv[])
 		}
 		first_time = 0;
 
-		if (IM && *IM !(PL && PP))
+		if (IM && *IM && !(PL && PP))
 			putf(IM);
 		if (setjmp(timeout)) {
 			cfsetispeed(&tmode, B0);