diff --git a/ChangeLog b/ChangeLog
index 3df041cbd..51c3753f8 100644
--- a/ChangeLog
+++ b/ChangeLog
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@
         * fixed small leak in illume2 policy config
         * fixed path setting in import dialog
         * fixed possible NULL deref in desktop editor
+        * fixed possible NULL deref in e_sys when debugging
 
 2013-01-22 Mike Blumenkrantz
 
diff --git a/NEWS b/NEWS
index b0ca10e0a..9ad87bb5f 100644
--- a/NEWS
+++ b/NEWS
@@ -119,3 +119,4 @@ Fixes:
     * fixed small leak in illume2 policy config
     * fixed path setting in import dialog
     * fixed possible NULL deref in desktop editor
+    * fixed possible NULL deref in e_sys when debugging
diff --git a/src/bin/e_sys_main.c b/src/bin/e_sys_main.c
index 6b5aa8633..747836dca 100644
--- a/src/bin/e_sys_main.c
+++ b/src/bin/e_sys_main.c
@@ -167,7 +167,7 @@ main(int argc,
                  "-ex detach -ex quit > /dev/null 2> /dev/null",
                  cmd,
                  pid,
-                 output);
+                 output ?: "e-output.txt");
 
         r = system(buffer);