diff --git a/source/poet.cpp b/source/poet.cpp
index 1e6f5a2..3d7fad2 100644
--- a/source/poet.cpp
+++ b/source/poet.cpp
@@ -16,6 +16,8 @@
 using namespace std;
 using namespace arma;
 
+static const char *DEFAULT_START_WORD = "CHAP";
+
 class RbmListener : public Rbm::IListener
 {
 	public:
@@ -40,7 +42,7 @@ class RbmListener : public Rbm::IListener
 			std::cout << "L1                     = " << status.L1 << std::endl;
 			std::cout << "L2                     = " << status.L2 << std::endl;
 			m_last_progress = status.progress;
-			forward("Chap");
+			forward(DEFAULT_START_WORD);
 		}
 		
 		return true;
@@ -157,7 +159,12 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
 	
 	if (command == Command::Forward)
 	{
-		char *start = argv[2];
+		std::string start(DEFAULT_START_WORD);
+		
+		if (argv[2] != nullptr)
+		{
+			start = std::string(argv[2]);
+		}
 		listener.forward(start);
 	}
 	printf("\nEnd of program\n");