diff --git a/shell/ash.c b/shell/ash.c
index c51fb804d..3e9997b53 100644
--- a/shell/ash.c
+++ b/shell/ash.c
@@ -8979,7 +8979,7 @@ mklocal(char *name)
 	 */
 	lvp = localvars;
 	while (lvp) {
-		if (varcmp(lvp->vp->var_text, name) == 0) {
+		if (lvp->vp && varcmp(lvp->vp->var_text, name) == 0) {
 			if (eq)
 				setvareq(name, 0);
 			/* else: