diff --git a/lib/readline.js b/lib/readline.js
index b95bb877d23960..1793cb21264df1 100644
--- a/lib/readline.js
+++ b/lib/readline.js
@@ -364,7 +364,7 @@ Interface.prototype.prompt = function(preserveCursor) {
 
 Interface.prototype.question = function(query, options, cb) {
   cb = typeof options === 'function' ? options : cb;
-  options = typeof options === 'object' ? options : {};
+  options = typeof options === 'object' && options !== null ? options : {};
 
   if (options.signal) {
     options.signal.addEventListener('abort', () => {
@@ -385,7 +385,7 @@ Interface.prototype.question = function(query, options, cb) {
 };
 
 Interface.prototype.question[promisify.custom] = function(query, options) {
-  options = typeof options === 'object' ? options : {};
+  options = typeof options === 'object' && options !== null ? options : {};
 
   return new Promise((resolve, reject) => {
     this.question(query, options, resolve);