diff --git a/lib/pure/encodings.nim b/lib/pure/encodings.nim
index c8683ee40f34..bbadca655297 100644
--- a/lib/pure/encodings.nim
+++ b/lib/pure/encodings.nim
@@ -342,7 +342,7 @@ proc open*(destEncoding = "UTF-8", srcEncoding = "CP1252"): EncodingConverter =
   ## Raises `EncodingError` if it cannot fulfill the request.
   when not defined(windows):
     result = iconvOpen(destEncoding, srcEncoding)
-    if result == nil:
+    if result == cast[EncodingConverter](-1):
       raise newException(EncodingError,
         "cannot create encoding converter from " &
         srcEncoding & " to " & destEncoding)
diff --git a/tests/stdlib/tencodings.nim b/tests/stdlib/tencodings.nim
index e5e89ef37947..2f4daaba3e4d 100644
--- a/tests/stdlib/tencodings.nim
+++ b/tests/stdlib/tencodings.nim
@@ -101,3 +101,7 @@ block:
   doAssert orig == "\195\182\195\164\195\188\195\159"
   doAssert ibm850 == "\148\132\129\225"
   doAssert convert(ibm850, current, "ibm850") == orig
+
+block: # fixes about #23481
+  doAssertRaises EncodingError:
+    discard open(destEncoding="this is a invalid enc")