diff --git a/src/fish.cpp b/src/fish.cpp
index 7e99342c4..949e3dc3a 100644
--- a/src/fish.cpp
+++ b/src/fish.cpp
@@ -451,6 +451,12 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv) {
     // struct stat tmp;
     // stat("----------FISH_HIT_MAIN----------", &tmp);
 
+    if (!argv[0]) {
+        static const char *dummy_argv[2] = {"fish", NULL};
+        argv = (char **)dummy_argv;  //!OCLINT(parameter reassignment)
+        argc = 1;                    //!OCLINT(parameter reassignment)
+        debug(0, _(L"I don't know my program name (no argv), using \"%s\""), argv[0]);
+    }
     std::vector<std::string> cmds;
     my_optind = fish_parse_opt(argc, argv, &cmds);