1 files changed, 8 insertions, 3 deletions

diff --git a/lisp/international/mule-cmds.el b/lisp/international/mule-cmds.el
index 9a648f53a34..42d4eebe2b3 100644
--- a/lisp/international/mule-cmds.el
+++ b/lisp/international/mule-cmds.el
@@ -553,9 +553,14 @@ and TO is ignored."
 
   ;; If the most preferred coding system has the property mime-charset,
   ;; append it to the defaults.
-  (let* ((preferred (symbol-value (car coding-category-list)))
-         (base (coding-system-base preferred)))
-    (and (coding-system-get preferred 'mime-charset)
+  (let ((tail coding-category-list)
+        preferred base)
+    (while (and tail
+                (not (setq preferred (symbol-name (car tail)))))
+      (setq tail (cdr tail)))
+    (and (coding-system-p preferred)
+         (setq base (coding-system-base preferred))
+         (coding-system-get preferred 'mime-charset)
          (not (assq preferred default-coding-system))
          (not (rassq base default-coding-system))
          (setq default-coding-system