diff --git a/riposte/riposte.py b/riposte/riposte.py
index 3fe9d38..f68b45c 100644
--- a/riposte/riposte.py
+++ b/riposte/riposte.py
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@
 
 
 def is_libedit():
-    return "libedit" in readline.__doc__
+    return readline.__doc__ and "libedit" in readline.__doc__
 
 
 class Riposte(PrinterMixin):