diff --git a/code/io/key.cpp b/code/io/key.cpp
index 15b05bf..c3582b8 100644
--- a/code/io/key.cpp
+++ b/code/io/key.cpp
@@ -115,8 +115,10 @@ void FillSDLArray ()
 {
 	KeyboardLayout layout = KEYBOARD_LAYOUT_DEFAULT;
 
-	if (!strcmp(Cmdline_keyboard_layout, "qwertz")) {
-		layout = KEYBOARD_LAYOUT_QWERTZ;
+	if (Cmdline_keyboard_layout) {
+		if (!strcmp(Cmdline_keyboard_layout, "qwertz")) {
+			layout = KEYBOARD_LAYOUT_QWERTZ;
+		}
 	}
 
 	SDLtoFS2[SDLK_0] = KEY_0;