diff --git a/contrib/epee/src/readline_buffer.cpp b/contrib/epee/src/readline_buffer.cpp
index c5949da0a..39369c43f 100644
--- a/contrib/epee/src/readline_buffer.cpp
+++ b/contrib/epee/src/readline_buffer.cpp
@@ -114,7 +114,7 @@ int rdln::readline_buffer::sync()
   int end = 0, point = 0;
 #endif
 
-  if (rl_end || *rl_prompt)
+  if (rl_end || (rl_prompt && *rl_prompt))
   {
 #if RL_READLINE_VERSION >= 0x0700
     rl_clear_visible_line();
@@ -137,7 +137,7 @@ int rdln::readline_buffer::sync()
   while ( this->snextc() != EOF );
 
 #if RL_READLINE_VERSION < 0x0700
-  if (end || *rl_prompt)
+  if (end || (rl_prompt && *rl_prompt))
   {
     rl_restore_prompt();
     rl_line_buffer = line;