diff --git a/i3-sensible-editor b/i3-sensible-editor
index dffe00d5..d71a440b 100755
--- a/i3-sensible-editor
+++ b/i3-sensible-editor
@@ -4,8 +4,8 @@
 #
 # Distributions/packagers can enhance this script with a
 # distribution-specific mechanism to find the preferred pager.
-which $VISUAL >/dev/null && exec $VISUAL "$@"
-which $EDITOR >/dev/null && exec $EDITOR "$@"
+[ -n "$VISUAL" ] && which $VISUAL >/dev/null && exec $VISUAL "$@"
+[ -n "$EDITOR" ] && which $EDITOR >/dev/null && exec $EDITOR "$@"
 
 # Hopefully one of these is installed (no flamewars about preference please!):
 which nano >/dev/null && exec nano "$@"
diff --git a/i3-sensible-pager b/i3-sensible-pager
index 5af8d6b4..32f30aff 100755
--- a/i3-sensible-pager
+++ b/i3-sensible-pager
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
 #
 # Distributions/packagers can enhance this script with a
 # distribution-specific mechanism to find the preferred pager.
-which $PAGER >/dev/null && exec $PAGER "$@"
+[ -n "$PAGER" ] && which $PAGER >/dev/null && exec $PAGER "$@"
 
 # Hopefully one of these is installed:
 which most >/dev/null && exec most "$@"