diff --git a/widget/bat.lua b/widget/bat.lua
index 3cb801c..3310069 100644
--- a/widget/bat.lua
+++ b/widget/bat.lua
@@ -136,7 +136,7 @@ local function factory(args)
         -- "Full", "Unknown" or "Charging". When the laptop is not plugged in,
         -- one or more of the batteries may be full, but only one battery
         -- discharging suffices to set global status to "Discharging".
-        bat_now.status = bat_now.n_status[1]
+        bat_now.status = bat_now.n_status[1] or "N/A"
         for _,status in ipairs(bat_now.n_status) do
             if status == "Discharging" or status == "Charging" then
                 bat_now.status = status