--- a/Modules/_sqlite/cursor.c
+++ b/Modules/_sqlite/cursor.c
@@ -837,6 +837,9 @@
             goto error;
         }
 
+        if (! statement)
+            break;
+
         /* execute statement, and ignore results of SELECT statements */
         rc = SQLITE_ROW;
         while (rc == SQLITE_ROW) {