diff --git a/fs/hfsplus/options.c b/fs/hfsplus/options.c
index dc64fac..9997cbf 100644
--- a/fs/hfsplus/options.c
+++ b/fs/hfsplus/options.c
@@ -132,7 +132,8 @@
 				return 0;
 			}
 			p = match_strdup(&args[0]);
-			sbi->nls = load_nls(p);
+			if (p)
+				sbi->nls = load_nls(p);
 			if (!sbi->nls) {
 				printk(KERN_ERR "hfs: unable to load nls mapping \"%s\"\n", p);
 				kfree(p);