diff --git a/runtime.c b/runtime.c
index 88007bbf..07a06d55 100644
--- a/runtime.c
+++ b/runtime.c
@@ -2128,7 +2128,10 @@ void Cyc_apply(void *data, int argc, closure cont, object prim, ...){
     //printf("\n");
 
     va_end(ap);
-    apply(data, cont, prim, (object)&args[0]);
+    apply(data, cont, prim, 
+          (argc > 0) 
+            ? (object)&args[0]
+            : nil);
 }
 // END apply