diff --git a/contrib/opie/libopie/generator.c b/contrib/opie/libopie/generator.c
index ccd67c7532f..539a1f99f7d 100644
--- a/contrib/opie/libopie/generator.c
+++ b/contrib/opie/libopie/generator.c
@@ -45,6 +45,9 @@ int opiegenerator FUNCTION((buffer, secret, response), char *buffer AND char *se
   if ((sequence < 2) || (sequence > 9999))
     return 1;
 
+  if (!secret[0])
+    return 2;
+
   if (opiepasscheck(secret))
     return -2;