diff --git a/nvm.sh b/nvm.sh
index 21f3b89..0e1c9dc 100755
--- a/nvm.sh
+++ b/nvm.sh
@@ -140,7 +140,7 @@ nvm_rc_version() {
   local NVMRC_PATH
   NVMRC_PATH="$(nvm_find_nvmrc)"
   if [ -e "$NVMRC_PATH" ]; then
-    read -r NVM_RC_VERSION < "$NVMRC_PATH"
+    read -r NVM_RC_VERSION < "$NVMRC_PATH" || printf ''
     echo "Found '$NVMRC_PATH' with version <$NVM_RC_VERSION>"
   else
     >&2 echo "No .nvmrc file found"