diff --git a/lib/events.js b/lib/events.js
index 209700e65ad596..000fa98d5a88c5 100644
--- a/lib/events.js
+++ b/lib/events.js
@@ -148,7 +148,8 @@ EventEmitter.prototype.emit = function emit(type) {
 
   // If there is no 'error' event listener then throw.
   if (doError) {
-    er = arguments[1];
+    if (arguments.length > 1)
+      er = arguments[1];
     if (domain) {
       if (!er)
         er = new Error('Uncaught, unspecified "error" event');