diff --git a/dialogs.cpp b/dialogs.cpp
index 3a5ae35e..6a5f5ff4 100644
--- a/dialogs.cpp
+++ b/dialogs.cpp
@@ -886,7 +886,8 @@ EX namespace dialog {
            last = &(items[i]);
            }
           }
-      set_highlight(*last);
+      if(last)
+        set_highlight(*last);
       }
     if(DKEY == SDLK_DOWN) {
       uni = sym = 0;