diff --git a/src/winio.c b/src/winio.c
index e961cccb..e4083d2a 100644
--- a/src/winio.c
+++ b/src/winio.c
@@ -2004,7 +2004,7 @@ void titlebar(const char *path)
 #ifndef NANO_TINY
 	/* When requested, show on the title bar the state of three options and
 	 * the state of the mark and whether a macro is being recorded. */
-	if (ISSET(STATEFLAGS) && !ISSET(VIEW_MODE)) {
+	if (*state && ISSET(STATEFLAGS) && !ISSET(VIEW_MODE)) {
 		if (openfile->modified && COLS > 1)
 			waddstr(topwin, " *");
 		if (statelen < COLS) {