diff --git a/scripts/mysqld_multi.sh b/scripts/mysqld_multi.sh
index 19434c3dc27..642772bca44 100644
--- a/scripts/mysqld_multi.sh
+++ b/scripts/mysqld_multi.sh
@@ -87,7 +87,7 @@ sub main
   {
     $flag_exit= 1;
   }
-  if (!($opt_config_file =~ m/\//))
+  if (defined($opt_config_file) && !($opt_config_file =~ m/\//))
   {
     # No path. Use current working directory
     $opt_config_file= "./" . $opt_config_file;