diff --git a/bin/ed b/bin/ed
index 7b602ae3..697f93a8 100755
--- a/bin/ed
+++ b/bin/ed
@@ -578,6 +578,10 @@ sub edWrite {
     } elsif (defined($adrs[0]) && !defined($adrs[1])) {
         $adrs[1] = $adrs[0];
     }
+    if ($adrs[0] == 0) {
+        edWarn(E_ADDRBAD);
+        return;
+    }
     if (length $commandsuf) {
         if ($commandsuf eq 'q') {
             $qflag = 1;