diff --git a/src/keyboard.c b/src/keyboard.c
index 625e14b9247..886857702e0 100644
--- a/src/keyboard.c
+++ b/src/keyboard.c
@@ -4463,7 +4463,7 @@ modify_event_symbol (symbol_num, modifiers, symbol_kind, name_alist,
       /* No; let's create it.  */
       if (!NILP (name_alist))
 	value = Fcdr_safe (Fassq (symbol_int, name_alist));
-      else if (name_table[symbol_num])
+      else if (name_table != 0 && name_table[symbol_num])
 	value = intern (name_table[symbol_num]);
 
 #ifdef HAVE_WINDOW_SYSTEM