diff --git a/RELEASE-NOTES b/RELEASE-NOTES
index 00ddf82..926e0c6 100644
--- a/RELEASE-NOTES
+++ b/RELEASE-NOTES
@@ -53,6 +53,7 @@
   - new "-p" option to run non-Unu format source files
   - now report "<none>" for `script:name` if no file is being
     run
+  - now report 0 for `script:arguments` if not running a program
 
 Future Notes
 
diff --git a/vm/nga-c/retro.c b/vm/nga-c/retro.c
index 22a41f8..228b842 100644
--- a/vm/nga-c/retro.c
+++ b/vm/nga-c/retro.c
@@ -551,7 +551,10 @@ V scripting_arg(NgaState *vm) {
 }
 
 V scripting_arg_count(NgaState *vm) {
-  stack_push(vm, vm->sys_argc - 2);
+  if ((vm->sys_argc - 2) <= 0)
+    stack_push(vm, 0);
+  else
+    stack_push(vm, vm->sys_argc - 2);
 }
 
 V scripting_include(NgaState *vm) {