diff --git a/shell/ash.c b/shell/ash.c
index a2e06184b..0d7cac0b5 100644
--- a/shell/ash.c
+++ b/shell/ash.c
@@ -8987,6 +8987,9 @@ localcmd(int argc UNUSED_PARAM, char **argv)
 {
 	char *name;
 
+	if (!funcnest)
+		ash_msg_and_raise_error("not in a function");
+
 	argv = argptr;
 	while ((name = *argv++) != NULL) {
 		mklocal(name);
diff --git a/shell/ash_test/ash-misc/local2.right b/shell/ash_test/ash-misc/local2.right
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..630ef7979
--- /dev/null
+++ b/shell/ash_test/ash-misc/local2.right
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+./local2.tests: local: line 1: not in a function
diff --git a/shell/ash_test/ash-misc/local2.tests b/shell/ash_test/ash-misc/local2.tests
new file mode 100755
index 000000000..8e14037c5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/shell/ash_test/ash-misc/local2.tests
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+local x=1