diff --git a/src/syncterm/ripper.c b/src/syncterm/ripper.c
index b0821b7866f3d66b97f00fdc627caaf695c1986f..e8864f0972c5ada08c300e81a68f09761823e39b 100644
--- a/src/syncterm/ripper.c
+++ b/src/syncterm/ripper.c
@@ -11966,6 +11966,8 @@ do_rip_command(int level, int sublevel, int cmd, const char *rawargs)
 							if (no_viewport())
 								break;
 							arg1 = parse_mega(&args[0], 2);
+							if(arg1 < 1)
+								break;
 							struct point *argv = malloc(sizeof(struct point) * arg1);
 							x1 = rip.x_dim - 1;
 							y1 = rip.x_dim - 1;