diff --git a/IkiWiki/Plugin/inline.pm b/IkiWiki/Plugin/inline.pm
index 66cba027a..935df9a77 100644
--- a/IkiWiki/Plugin/inline.pm
+++ b/IkiWiki/Plugin/inline.pm
@@ -233,7 +233,7 @@ sub pingurl (@) { #{{{
 			}
 			my $r=$res->value;
 			if (! exists $r->{flerror} || $r->{flerror}) {
-				debug("Ping rejected: ".$r->{message});
+				debug("Ping rejected: ".(exists $r->{message} ? $r->{message} : "[unknown reason]"));
 			}
 		}
 	}