diff --git a/kiss-new b/kiss-new
index bbb4c44..2667553 100755
--- a/kiss-new
+++ b/kiss-new
@@ -104,7 +104,7 @@ args() {
     # keystrokes once you memorize themand it also has the side-effect
     # of "correcting" spelling mistakes assuming the first letter is
     # right.
-    while [ "$1" ]; do
+    while [ "${1:-?}" ]; do
         case $1 in
             # Build the list of packages.
             b*)