diff --git a/src/ChangeLog b/src/ChangeLog
index 2151a0b3..b4dc7e09 100644
--- a/src/ChangeLog
+++ b/src/ChangeLog
@@ -1,3 +1,8 @@
+2001-03-31  Hrvoje Niksic  <hniksic@arsdigita.com>
+
+	* recur.c (recursive_retrieve): Clear the hash tables only when
+	they are defined.
+
 2001-03-31  Hrvoje Niksic  <hniksic@arsdigita.com>
 
 	* http.c (gethttp): Make sure the socket is closed with
diff --git a/src/recur.c b/src/recur.c
index ba2115cf..1734530d 100644
--- a/src/recur.c
+++ b/src/recur.c
@@ -157,8 +157,10 @@ recursive_retrieve (const char *file, const char *this_url)
 
       hash_table_clear (undesirable_urls);
       string_set_add (undesirable_urls, this_url);
-      hash_table_clear (dl_file_url_map);
-      hash_table_clear (dl_url_file_map);
+      if (dl_file_url_map)
+	hash_table_clear (dl_file_url_map);
+      if (dl_url_file_map)
+	hash_table_clear (dl_url_file_map);
       /* Enter this_url to the hash table, in original and "enhanced" form.  */
       u = newurl ();
       err = parseurl (this_url, u, 0);