diff --git a/lisp/emulation/viper-cmd.el b/lisp/emulation/viper-cmd.el
index da72b976282..6951dbb708b 100644
--- a/lisp/emulation/viper-cmd.el
+++ b/lisp/emulation/viper-cmd.el
@@ -2127,6 +2127,7 @@ problems."
 
     (setq keymap (or keymap minibuffer-local-map)
 	  initial (or initial "")
+	  viper-initial initial
 	  temp-msg (if default
 		       (format "(default %s) " default)
 		     ""))