diff --git a/src/terminal.c b/src/terminal.c
index 0283267..9600e0a 100644
--- a/src/terminal.c
+++ b/src/terminal.c
@@ -6462,11 +6462,9 @@
     if (term->tl_vterm == NULL)
 	return;
 
-    if (argvars[1].v_type != VAR_LIST || argvars[1].vval.v_list == NULL)
-    {
-	emsg(_(e_list_required));
+    if (check_for_nonnull_list_arg(argvars, 1) == FAIL)
 	return;
-    }
+
     if (argvars[1].vval.v_list->lv_first == &range_list_item
 	    || argvars[1].vval.v_list->lv_len != 16)
     {