diff --git a/acme.sh b/acme.sh
index 38965ddc..9486bcc5 100755
--- a/acme.sh
+++ b/acme.sh
@@ -5440,7 +5440,7 @@ _process() {
         ;;
       --dns)
         wvalue="dns"
-        if ! _startswith "$2" "-"; then
+        if [ "$2" ] && ! _startswith "$2" "-"; then
           wvalue="$2"
           shift
         fi