diff --git a/src/mes.c b/src/mes.c
index 6f3c4a51..e66f6b00 100644
--- a/src/mes.c
+++ b/src/mes.c
@@ -661,7 +661,7 @@ append_reverse (SCM x, SCM y)
 SCM
 reverse_x_ (SCM x, SCM t)
 {
-  if (TYPE (x) != TPAIR)
+  if (x != cell_nil && TYPE (x) != TPAIR)
     error (cell_symbol_not_a_pair, cons (x, cell_reverse_x_));
   SCM r = t;
   while (x != cell_nil)
diff --git a/tests/scm.test b/tests/scm.test
index bb4c2cc4..a01465e8 100755
--- a/tests/scm.test
+++ b/tests/scm.test
@@ -137,6 +137,9 @@ exit $?
                  (reverse! list)
                  list))
 
+(pass-if-equal "reverse! ()" '()
+  (reverse! '()))
+
 (pass-if "cond-expand" (sequal? (cond-expand (foobar #f) (mes (display ": pass: *YAY*") 'mes) (guile (display ": pass: *GUILE*") 'mes)) 'mes))
 
 (pass-if "apply identity" (seq? (apply identity '(0)) 0))