diff --git a/termite.cc b/termite.cc
index 066da82..9aa6d63 100644
--- a/termite.cc
+++ b/termite.cc
@@ -193,7 +193,7 @@ static void open_selection(VteTerminal *vte) {
     if (browser_cmd[0]) {
         AtkText *text = ATK_TEXT(vte_terminal_accessible_new(vte));
         char *selection = atk_text_get_selection(text, 0, NULL, NULL);
-        if (selection[0]) {
+        if (selection && selection[0]) {
             launch_browser(selection);
         }
         g_free(selection);