diff --git a/lib/libedit/readline.c b/lib/libedit/readline.c
index a7d13506a2bc..990270fc90ec 100644
--- a/lib/libedit/readline.c
+++ b/lib/libedit/readline.c
@@ -395,6 +395,9 @@ readline(const char *p)
 	char *buf;
 	static int used_event_hook;
 
+	if (line == NULL)
+		return 0;
+
 	if (e == NULL || h == NULL)
 		rl_initialize();