updated for version 7.0-071
diff --git a/src/search.c b/src/search.c
index 97580c0..1c38060 100644
--- a/src/search.c
+++ b/src/search.c
@@ -1259,7 +1259,7 @@
 	/*
 	 * Add character and/or line offset
 	 */
-	if (!(options & SEARCH_NOOF) || *pat == ';')
+	if (!(options & SEARCH_NOOF) || (pat != NULL && *pat == ';'))
 	{
 	    if (spats[0].off.line)	/* Add the offset to the line number. */
 	    {
diff --git a/src/version.c b/src/version.c
index 9ed4bf3..35c6c56 100644
--- a/src/version.c
+++ b/src/version.c
@@ -667,6 +667,8 @@
 static int included_patches[] =
 {   /* Add new patch number below this line */
 /**/
+    71,
+/**/
     70,
 /**/
     69,