--- lilo-21.4.4/lilo.c
+++ lilo-21.4.4/lilo.c
@@ -459,7 +459,7 @@
     }
     preload_dev_cache();
     if (identify) identify_image(identify,ident_opt);
-    if (strncmp("/dev/md",cfg_get_strg(cf_options,"boot"),7) == 0) {
+    if (cfg_get_strg(cf_options,"boot") && strncmp("/dev/md",cfg_get_strg(cf_options,"boot"),7) == 0) {
 	if ((md_fd=open(cfg_get_strg(cf_options,"boot"),O_NOACCESS)) < 0)
 	    die("Unable to open %s",cfg_get_strg(cf_options,"boot"));
 	if (fstat(md_fd,&st) < 0)