diff --git a/cmd-send-keys.c b/cmd-send-keys.c
index 6c2b0998..86e7daed 100644
--- a/cmd-send-keys.c
+++ b/cmd-send-keys.c
@@ -168,7 +168,7 @@ cmd_send_keys_exec(struct cmd *self, struct cmdq_item *item)
 	u_int				 count = args_count(args);
 	char				*cause = NULL;
 
-	if (tc->flags & CLIENT_READONLY && !args_has(args, 'X')) {
+	if (tc != NULL && tc->flags & CLIENT_READONLY && !args_has(args, 'X')) {
 		cmdq_error(item, "client is read-only");
 		return (CMD_RETURN_ERROR);
 	}