diff --git a/Lib/profile.py b/Lib/profile.py
index 27d68ba..3af8427 100755
--- a/Lib/profile.py
+++ b/Lib/profile.py
@@ -605,9 +605,9 @@
         sys.exit(2)
 
     (options, args) = parser.parse_args()
-    sys.argv[:] = args
 
-    if (len(sys.argv) > 0):
+    if (len(args) > 0):
+        sys.argv[:] = args
         sys.path.insert(0, os.path.dirname(sys.argv[0]))
         run('execfile(%r)' % (sys.argv[0],), options.outfile, options.sort)
     else: