diff --git a/src/rcfile.c b/src/rcfile.c
index dcec034d..d95d1549 100644
--- a/src/rcfile.c
+++ b/src/rcfile.c
@@ -631,6 +631,8 @@ void parse_includes(char *ptr)
 	glob_t files;
 	int result;
 
+	check_for_nonempty_syntax();
+
 	pattern = ptr;
 	if (*pattern == '"')
 		pattern++;