diff --git a/src/openvpn/options.c b/src/openvpn/options.c
index 8d417206..a54bc562 100644
--- a/src/openvpn/options.c
+++ b/src/openvpn/options.c
@@ -5365,7 +5365,7 @@ add_option(struct options *options,
         {
             /* only message-related ECHO are logged, since other ECHOs
              * can potentially include security-sensitive strings */
-            if (strncmp(p[1], "msg", 3) == 0)
+            if (p[1] && strncmp(p[1], "msg", 3) == 0)
             {
                 msg(M_INFO, "%s:%s",
                     pull_mode ? "ECHO-PULL" : "ECHO",