diff --git a/sys/src/cmd/audio/zuke/zuke.c b/sys/src/cmd/audio/zuke/zuke.c
index 9cbdb8f95..191aa19ce 100644
--- a/sys/src/cmd/audio/zuke/zuke.c
+++ b/sys/src/cmd/audio/zuke/zuke.c
@@ -941,6 +941,8 @@ search(char d)
 			if(cistrstr(m->artist[a], buf) != nil)
 				break;
 		}
+		if(a < m->numartist)
+			break;
 		if(m->album != nil && cistrstr(m->album, buf) != nil)
 			break;
 		if(m->title != nil && cistrstr(m->title, buf) != nil)