diff --git a/src/backend/utils/misc/help_config.c b/src/backend/utils/misc/help_config.c
index bea95be878..f4edd26b84 100644
--- a/src/backend/utils/misc/help_config.c
+++ b/src/backend/utils/misc/help_config.c
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@
  * Portions Copyright (c) 1996-2005, PostgreSQL Global Development Group
  *
  * IDENTIFICATION
- *	  $PostgreSQL: pgsql/src/backend/utils/misc/help_config.c,v 1.14 2004/12/31 22:02:45 pgsql Exp $
+ *	  $PostgreSQL: pgsql/src/backend/utils/misc/help_config.c,v 1.14.4.1 2008/02/23 19:23:57 tgl Exp $
  *
  *-------------------------------------------------------------------------
  */
@@ -118,7 +118,7 @@ printMixedStruct(mixedStruct *structToPrint)
 
 		case PGC_STRING:
 			printf("STRING\t%s\t\t\t",
-				   structToPrint->string.boot_val);
+				   structToPrint->string.boot_val ? structToPrint->string.boot_val : "");
 			break;
 
 		default: