diff --git a/lib/init.c b/lib/init.c
index e45f6afc..a1d4e771 100644
--- a/lib/init.c
+++ b/lib/init.c
@@ -261,7 +261,7 @@ char *rpc_get_error(struct rpc_context *rpc)
 {
 	assert(rpc->magic == RPC_CONTEXT_MAGIC);
 
-	return rpc->error_string;
+	return rpc->error_string ? rpc->error_string : "";
 }
 
 static void rpc_purge_all_pdus(struct rpc_context *rpc, int status, const char *error)