diff --git a/.vim/after/ftplugin/perl.vim b/.vim/after/ftplugin/perl.vim
--- a/.vim/after/ftplugin/perl.vim
+++ b/.vim/after/ftplugin/perl.vim
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 compiler perl
 
-if g:perl_tidy_equalprg
+if exists('g:perl_tidy_equalprg') && g:perl_tidy_equalprg
   setlocal equalprg=perltidy\ -q
 endif