diff --git a/libao2/ao_openal.c b/libao2/ao_openal.c
index 263aed34fb..0e04f2cc81 100644
--- a/libao2/ao_openal.c
+++ b/libao2/ao_openal.c
@@ -133,7 +133,7 @@ static int init(int rate, int channels, int format, int flags) {
     print_help();
     return 0;
   }
-  if (strcmp(device, "help") == 0) {
+  if (device && strcmp(device, "help") == 0) {
     list_devices();
     goto err_out;
   }