diff --git a/src/utils.cpp b/src/utils.cpp
index 940faa3eed..310669c241 100644
--- a/src/utils.cpp
+++ b/src/utils.cpp
@@ -234,9 +234,9 @@ std::string utils::point_to_error(Input *input, int failed)
       // construct and append error indicator line
       cmdline += '\n';
       cmdline += std::string(indicator, ' ');
-      cmdline += std::string(strlen(input->arg[failed]) + quoted, '^');
+      cmdline += std::string(strlen((failed < 0) ? input->command : input->arg[failed])
+                             + quoted, '^');
       cmdline += '\n';
-
     } else {
       cmdline += lastline;
       cmdline += '\n';