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. */
 	    {