diff --git a/src/chgpasswd.c b/src/chgpasswd.c
index fe4055d8..7b773e2f 100644
--- a/src/chgpasswd.c
+++ b/src/chgpasswd.c
@@ -186,6 +186,13 @@ static void process_flags (int argc, char **argv)
 		case 's':
 			sflg = true;
                         bad_s = 0;
+
+			if (!crypt_method) {
+				fprintf (stderr,
+				         _("%s: no crypt method defined\n"),
+				         Prog);
+				usage (E_USAGE);
+			}
 #if defined(USE_SHA_CRYPT)
 			if (  (   ((0 == strcmp (crypt_method, "SHA256")) || (0 == strcmp (crypt_method, "SHA512")))
 			       && (0 == getlong(optarg, &sha_rounds)))) {