1 files changed, 1 insertions, 1 deletions

diff --git a/src/search.c b/src/search.c
index 85c15a0de47..53187c2c485 100644
--- a/src/search.c
+++ b/src/search.c
@@ -1839,7 +1839,7 @@ Use `store-match-data' to reinstate the data in this list.")
   int i, len;
 
   if (NILP (last_thing_searched))
-    error ("match-data called before any match found");
+    return Qnil;
 
   data = (Lisp_Object *) alloca ((2 * search_regs.num_regs)
                                  * sizeof (Lisp_Object));