diff --git a/src/cmdhist.c b/src/cmdhist.c
index 1b04e62..dee95ba 100644
--- a/src/cmdhist.c
+++ b/src/cmdhist.c
@@ -599,8 +599,7 @@
 
     if (in_vim9script()
 	    && (check_for_string_arg(argvars, 0) == FAIL
-		|| (argvars[1].v_type != VAR_UNKNOWN
-		    && check_for_number_arg(argvars, 1) == FAIL)))
+		|| check_for_opt_number_arg(argvars, 1) == FAIL))
 	return;
 
     str = tv_get_string_chk(&argvars[0]);	// NULL on type error