diff --git a/plugins/sudoers/sudoers.c b/plugins/sudoers/sudoers.c
index 5b1dcbc22..356e2ef52 100644
--- a/plugins/sudoers/sudoers.c
+++ b/plugins/sudoers/sudoers.c
@@ -1327,6 +1327,8 @@ deserialize_info(char * const settings[], char * const user_info[])
 	    continue;
 	}
     }
+    if (user_cwd == NULL)
+	user_cwd = "unknown";
     if (user_tty == NULL)
 	user_tty = "unknown"; /* user_ttypath remains NULL */