diff --git a/src/tool_operate.c b/src/tool_operate.c
index e2b287269a..f36f3ce530 100644
--- a/src/tool_operate.c
+++ b/src/tool_operate.c
@@ -2574,7 +2574,7 @@ static CURLcode run_all_transfers(struct GlobalConfig *global,
 CURLcode operate(struct GlobalConfig *global, int argc, argv_item_t argv[])
 {
   CURLcode result = CURLE_OK;
-  char *first_arg = curlx_convert_tchar_to_UTF8(argv[1]);
+  char *first_arg = argc > 1 ? curlx_convert_tchar_to_UTF8(argv[1]) : NULL;
 
   /* Setup proper locale from environment */
 #ifdef HAVE_SETLOCALE