diff --git a/bind8/bind8-lib.pl b/bind8/bind8-lib.pl
index aa8d0a536..056f324f3 100755
--- a/bind8/bind8-lib.pl
+++ b/bind8/bind8-lib.pl
@@ -2991,7 +2991,7 @@ if (&has_ndc() == 2) {
 		" ".$rndc_args." 2>&1 </dev/null");
 	$ex = $?;
 	}
-if (&has_ndc() != 2 || $out =~ /connect\s+failed/i) {
+if (&has_ndc() != 2 || $out && $out =~ /connect\s+failed/i) {
 	if (&has_ndc(2)) {
 		# Try with ndc if rndc is not install or failed
 		$out = &backquote_logged("$config{'ndc_cmd'} $args 2>&1 </dev/null");