diff --git a/xmake/tools/gdb.lua b/xmake/tools/gdb.lua
index 9bd0bbd465d..0d197a775e2 100644
--- a/xmake/tools/gdb.lua
+++ b/xmake/tools/gdb.lua
@@ -39,6 +39,7 @@ end
 function run(shellname, argv)
 
     -- patch arguments
+    argv = argv or {}
     table.insert(argv, 1, shellname)
     table.insert(argv, 1, "--args")
 
diff --git a/xmake/tools/lldb.lua b/xmake/tools/lldb.lua
index ff62c3b567e..61eb0fe5b52 100644
--- a/xmake/tools/lldb.lua
+++ b/xmake/tools/lldb.lua
@@ -42,6 +42,7 @@ function run(shellname, argv)
     local shellnames = _g.shellname:split("%s")
 
     -- patch arguments
+    argv = argv or {}
     table.insert(argv, 1, shellname)
     for i = #shellnames, 2, -1 do
         table.insert(argv, 1, shellnames[i])