diff --git a/sudo.c b/sudo.c
index fd209d70f..e73013bec 100644
--- a/sudo.c
+++ b/sudo.c
@@ -887,7 +887,8 @@ set_loginclass(pw)
     lc = login_getclass(login_class);
     if (!lc || !lc->lc_class || strcmp(lc->lc_class, login_class) != 0) {
 	log_error(errflags, "unknown login class: %s", login_class);
-	lc = login_getclass(NULL);	/* Fall back on default login class */
+	if (!lc)
+	    lc = login_getclass(NULL);	/* needed for login_getstyle() later */
     }
 }
 #else