diff --git a/src/scm/main.scm b/src/scm/main.scm
index d1f7706907..6c7241076a 100644
--- a/src/scm/main.scm
+++ b/src/scm/main.scm
@@ -78,7 +78,8 @@
   (let ((file (if (pair? gnc:*command-line-files*)
                   (car gnc:*command-line-files*)
                   (gnc:history-get-last))))
-      (gnc:ui-open-file file))
+    (if file
+      (gnc:ui-open-file file)))
 
   ;; add a hook to save the user configs on shutdown
   (gnc:hook-add-dangler gnc:*shutdown-hook* gnc:save-global-options)