diff --git a/lang/cem/libcc/stdio/termcap.c b/lang/cem/libcc/stdio/termcap.c
index 2ce923715..3b5ae5db2 100644
--- a/lang/cem/libcc/stdio/termcap.c
+++ b/lang/cem/libcc/stdio/termcap.c
@@ -55,6 +55,7 @@ char	*name;
 			(void) strcpy(bp, file);
 			return(1);
 		}
+		else file = "/etc/termcap";
 	} else
 		file = "/etc/termcap";
 	if ((fp = fopen(file, "r")) == (FILE *) NULL)