diff --git a/src/eval.c b/src/eval.c
index 99f3650fc9b..cff4b924778 100644
--- a/src/eval.c
+++ b/src/eval.c
@@ -1367,7 +1367,7 @@ internal_lisp_condition_case (Lisp_Object var, Lisp_Object bodyform,
 	error ("Invalid condition handler: %s",
 	       SDATA (Fprin1_to_string (tem, Qt, Qnil)));
       if (CONSP (tem) && EQ (XCAR (tem), QCsuccess))
-	success_handler = XCDR (tem);
+	success_handler = tem;
       else
 	clausenb++;
     }
@@ -1430,7 +1430,7 @@ internal_lisp_condition_case (Lisp_Object var, Lisp_Object bodyform,
   if (!NILP (success_handler))
     {
       if (NILP (var))
-	return Fprogn (success_handler);
+	return Fprogn (XCDR (success_handler));
 
       Lisp_Object handler_var = var;
       if (!NILP (Vinternal_interpreter_environment))
@@ -1442,7 +1442,7 @@ internal_lisp_condition_case (Lisp_Object var, Lisp_Object bodyform,
 
       specpdl_ref count = SPECPDL_INDEX ();
       specbind (handler_var, result);
-      return unbind_to (count, Fprogn (success_handler));
+      return unbind_to (count, Fprogn (XCDR (success_handler)));
     }
   return result;
 }
diff --git a/test/lisp/emacs-lisp/bytecomp-tests.el b/test/lisp/emacs-lisp/bytecomp-tests.el
index 36f541e867c..47200de7a02 100644
--- a/test/lisp/emacs-lisp/bytecomp-tests.el
+++ b/test/lisp/emacs-lisp/bytecomp-tests.el
@@ -752,6 +752,11 @@ inner loops respectively."
       (condition-case nil
           (characterp x)               ; value (no :success, no var)
         (error 'bad)))
+
+    (condition-case nil
+        (bytecomp-test-identity 3)
+      (error 'bad)
+      (:success))                       ; empty handler
     )
   "List of expressions for cross-testing interpreted and compiled code.")