diff --git a/src/normal.c b/src/normal.c
index 160beb6..befe4ac 100644
--- a/src/normal.c
+++ b/src/normal.c
@@ -5602,6 +5602,7 @@
 	    STRCAT(buf, "\\>");
 #ifdef FEAT_CMDHIST
 	/* put pattern in search history */
+	init_history();
 	add_to_history(HIST_SEARCH, buf, TRUE, NUL);
 #endif
 	normal_search(cap, cmdchar == '*' ? '/' : '?', buf, 0);