--- builtins/shift.def.orig	2002-10-22 01:05:10.000000000 -0400
+++ builtins/shift.def	2002-10-22 01:05:06.000000000 -0400
@@ -68,7 +68,7 @@
   else if (times > number_of_args ())
     {
       if (print_shift_error)
-	sh_erange (list->word->word, "shift count");
+	sh_erange (list ? list->word->word : NULL, "shift count");
       return (EXECUTION_FAILURE);
     }