diff --git a/src/insexpand.c b/src/insexpand.c
index 28e4d34..c673df9 100644
--- a/src/insexpand.c
+++ b/src/insexpand.c
@@ -1448,7 +1448,7 @@
     char_u *
 ins_compl_leader(void)
 {
-    return compl_leader;
+    return compl_leader != NULL ? compl_leader : compl_orig_text;
 }
 
 /*