diff --git a/src/gui/FileListWidget.cxx b/src/gui/FileListWidget.cxx
index 9af9c22d7..b0ed277fe 100644
--- a/src/gui/FileListWidget.cxx
+++ b/src/gui/FileListWidget.cxx
@@ -367,7 +367,10 @@ bool FileListWidget::handleText(char text)
   const bool firstShift = StellaModTest::isShift(_firstMod);
 
   if(StellaModTest::isShift(_lastMod))
-    text = StellaKeyName::forKey(_lastKey)[0];
+  {
+    const string_view key = StellaKeyName::forKey(_lastKey);
+    text = !key.empty() ? key.front() : '\0';
+  }
 
   if(_quickSelectTime < time)
     _quickSelectStr = text;