diff --git a/misc/quitcd/quitcd.bash b/misc/quitcd/quitcd.bash
index 203e613b..edeb2db9 100644
--- a/misc/quitcd/quitcd.bash
+++ b/misc/quitcd/quitcd.bash
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 n ()
 {
     # Block nesting of nnn in subshells
-    if [ "${NNNLVL:-0}" -ge 1 ]; then
+    if [ -n $NNNLVL ] && [ "${NNNLVL:-0}" -ge 1 ]; then
         echo "nnn is already running"
         return
     fi
diff --git a/misc/quitcd/quitcd.fish b/misc/quitcd/quitcd.fish
index ea6a1bda..9b3061c4 100644
--- a/misc/quitcd/quitcd.fish
+++ b/misc/quitcd/quitcd.fish
@@ -4,9 +4,11 @@
 
 function n --description 'support nnn quit and change directory'
     # Block nesting of nnn in subshells
-    if [ (expr $NNNLVL + 0) -ge 1 ]
-        echo "nnn is already running"
-        return
+    if test -n NNNLVL
+        if [ (expr $NNNLVL + 0) -ge 1 ]
+            echo "nnn is already running"
+            return
+        end
     end
 
     # The default behaviour is to cd on quit (nnn checks if NNN_TMPFILE is set)
diff --git a/misc/quitcd/quitcd.zsh b/misc/quitcd/quitcd.zsh
index 203e613b..edeb2db9 100644
--- a/misc/quitcd/quitcd.zsh
+++ b/misc/quitcd/quitcd.zsh
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 n ()
 {
     # Block nesting of nnn in subshells
-    if [ "${NNNLVL:-0}" -ge 1 ]; then
+    if [ -n $NNNLVL ] && [ "${NNNLVL:-0}" -ge 1 ]; then
         echo "nnn is already running"
         return
     fi