1 files changed, 4 insertions, 2 deletions

diff --git a/libbb/verror_msg.c b/libbb/verror_msg.c
index e51003134..dbd8323e4 100644
--- a/libbb/verror_msg.c
+++ b/libbb/verror_msg.c
@@ -45,8 +45,10 @@ void bb_verror_msg(const char *s, va_list p, const char* strerr)
         msg[applet_len - 2] = ':';
         msg[applet_len - 1] = ' ';
         if (strerr) {
-                msg[used++] = ':';
-                msg[used++] = ' ';
+                if (s[0]) { /* not perror_nomsg? */
+                        msg[used++] = ':';
+                        msg[used++] = ' ';
+                }
                 strcpy(&msg[used], strerr);
                 used += strerr_len;
         }