1 files changed, 3 insertions, 1 deletions
diff --git a/re.c b/re.c
index 67ee4dfc1b..b7603e0f29 100644
--- a/re.c
+++ b/re.c
@@ -1392,7 +1392,9 @@ static void
 match_setter(val)
     VALUE val;
 {
-    Check_Type(val, T_MATCH);
+    if (!NIL_P(val)) {
+	Check_Type(val, T_MATCH);
+    }
     rb_backref_set(val);
 }