diff --git a/src/nano.c b/src/nano.c
index def32d0d73eabad855af2b0ef4aaae6361594261..f52778b0112fd56638e96b99aa0fd9f27a69490e 100644
--- a/src/nano.c
+++ b/src/nano.c
@@ -2381,7 +2381,7 @@ void do_spell(void)
     add_open_file(TRUE);
 #endif
 
-    spell_msg = alt_speller != NULL ? do_alt_speller(temp) :
+    spell_msg = (alt_speller != NULL) ? do_alt_speller(temp) :
 	do_int_speller(temp);
     unlink(temp);
     free(temp);