diff --git a/rspec-core/lib/rspec/core/backtrace_formatter.rb b/rspec-core/lib/rspec/core/backtrace_formatter.rb
index 74617ec25..0cdcce5a3 100644
--- a/rspec-core/lib/rspec/core/backtrace_formatter.rb
+++ b/rspec-core/lib/rspec/core/backtrace_formatter.rb
@@ -31,6 +31,7 @@ def filter_gem(gem_name)
       end
 
       def format_backtrace(backtrace, options={})
+        return [] unless backtrace
         return backtrace if options[:full_backtrace] || backtrace.empty?
 
         backtrace.map { |l| backtrace_line(l) }.compact.
diff --git a/rspec-core/lib/rspec/core/formatters/exception_presenter.rb b/rspec-core/lib/rspec/core/formatters/exception_presenter.rb
index 248328054..9056a8489 100644
--- a/rspec-core/lib/rspec/core/formatters/exception_presenter.rb
+++ b/rspec-core/lib/rspec/core/formatters/exception_presenter.rb
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ def colorized_message_lines(colorizer=::RSpec::Core::Formatters::ConsoleCodes)
         end
 
         def formatted_backtrace(exception=@exception)
-          backtrace_formatter.format_backtrace((exception.backtrace || []), example.metadata) +
+          backtrace_formatter.format_backtrace(exception.backtrace, example.metadata) +
             formatted_cause(exception)
         end
 
diff --git a/rspec-core/spec/rspec/core/backtrace_formatter_spec.rb b/rspec-core/spec/rspec/core/backtrace_formatter_spec.rb
index ba81f4f86..e9185991d 100644
--- a/rspec-core/spec/rspec/core/backtrace_formatter_spec.rb
+++ b/rspec-core/spec/rspec/core/backtrace_formatter_spec.rb
@@ -132,13 +132,23 @@ def make_backtrace_formatter(exclusion_patterns=nil, inclusion_patterns=nil)
         end
       end
 
-      describe "an empty backtrace" do
+      describe "for an empty backtrace" do
         it "does not add the explanatory message about backtrace filtering" do
           formatter = BacktraceFormatter.new
           expect(formatter.format_backtrace([])).to eq([])
         end
       end
 
+      describe "for a `nil` backtrace (since exceptions can have no backtrace!)" do
+        it 'returns a blank array, with no explanatory message' do
+          exception = Exception.new
+          expect(exception.backtrace).to be_nil
+
+          formatter = BacktraceFormatter.new
+          expect(formatter.format_backtrace(exception.backtrace)).to eq([])
+        end
+      end
+
       context "when rspec is installed in the current working directory" do
         it "excludes lines from rspec libs by default", :unless => RSpec::Support::OS.windows? do
           backtrace = [