diff --git a/core/lib/defuns-nlinum.el b/core/lib/defuns-nlinum.el
index d37e19ae6..6c31cf8fe 100644
--- a/core/lib/defuns-nlinum.el
+++ b/core/lib/defuns-nlinum.el
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
 ;;;###autoload
 (defun narf/nlinum-toggle ()
   (interactive)
-  (if nlinum-mode
+  (if (bound-and-true-p nlinum-mode)
       (narf|nlinum-disable)
     (narf|nlinum-enable)))