diff --git a/lisp/textmodes/ispell.el b/lisp/textmodes/ispell.el
index 0c0a51e7df0..6a169622f52 100644
--- a/lisp/textmodes/ispell.el
+++ b/lisp/textmodes/ispell.el
@@ -1492,8 +1492,10 @@ This is passed to the Ispell process using the `-p' switch.")
 		(assoc ispell-current-dictionary ispell-local-dictionary-alist)
 		(assoc ispell-current-dictionary ispell-dictionary-alist)
 		(error "No data for dictionary \"%s\" in `ispell-local-dictionary-alist' or `ispell-dictionary-alist'"
-		       ispell-current-dictionary))))
-    (decode-coding-string (nth n slot) (ispell-get-coding-system) t)))
+		       ispell-current-dictionary)))
+         (str (nth n slot)))
+    (if (stringp str)
+        (decode-coding-string str (ispell-get-coding-system) t))))
 
 (defun ispell-get-casechars ()
   (ispell-get-decoded-string 1))