diff --git a/kittens/choose/output.c b/kittens/choose/output.c
index eac45383b..6dcf15506 100644
--- a/kittens/choose/output.c
+++ b/kittens/choose/output.c
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ static inline ssize_t ms_write(int fd, const void* buf, size_t count) { return _
 
 static inline bool
 ensure_space(GlobalData *global, size_t sz) {
-    if (global->output_sz < sz + global->output_pos) {
+    if (global->output_sz < sz + global->output_pos || !global->output) {
         size_t before = global->output_sz;
         global->output_sz += MAX(sz, (64 * 1024));
         global->output = realloc(global->output, sizeof(text_t) * global->output_sz);