diff --git a/libselinux/src/label_file.c b/libselinux/src/label_file.c
index 8e7b2889..71b085ae 100644
--- a/libselinux/src/label_file.c
+++ b/libselinux/src/label_file.c
@@ -138,7 +138,7 @@ static int compile_regex(struct saved_data *data, struct spec *spec, const char
 	}
 
 	spec->sd = pcre_study(spec->regex, 0, &tmperrbuf);
-	if (!spec->sd) {
+	if (!spec->sd && tmperrbuf) {
 		if (errbuf)
 			*errbuf=tmperrbuf;
 		return -1;