diff --git a/ngx_http_let_module.c b/ngx_http_let_module.c
index c9be20c..4c82676 100644
--- a/ngx_http_let_module.c
+++ b/ngx_http_let_module.c
@@ -518,6 +518,9 @@ static char* ngx_http_let_let(ngx_conf_t *cf, ngx_command_t *cmd, void *conf)
 	
 	ngx_log_debug0(NGX_LOG_INFO, cf->log, 0, "let command handler");
 
+        if (value[1].len <= 1)
+		return "needs variable name";
+
 	if (value[1].data[0] != '$')
 		return "needs variable as the first argument";
 
diff --git a/t/crash.t b/t/crash.t
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..35181a7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/t/crash.t
@@ -0,0 +1,22 @@
+# vi:filetype=
+
+use lib 'lib';
+use Test::Nginx::Socket; # 'no_plan';
+
+repeat_each(1);
+
+plan tests => repeat_each() * 2 * blocks();
+
+run_tests();
+
+__DATA__
+
+=== TEST 1: simple calc
+--- config
+    location /let {
+        let $ a 1;
+    }
+--- request
+GET /let
+--- error_log: directive needs variable name
+--- must_die