diff --git a/ext/readline/readline.c b/ext/readline/readline.c
index 9c637427f75..29c96791a8f 100644
--- a/ext/readline/readline.c
+++ b/ext/readline/readline.c
@@ -626,6 +626,11 @@ PHP_FUNCTION(readline_callback_handler_remove)
    Ask readline to redraw the display */
 PHP_FUNCTION(readline_redisplay)
 {
+#if HAVE_LIBEDIT
+	/* seems libedit doesn't take care of rl_initialize in rl_redisplay
+	 * see bug #72538 */
+	using_history();
+#endif
 	rl_redisplay();
 }
 /* }}} */
diff --git a/ext/readline/tests/bug72538.phpt b/ext/readline/tests/bug72538.phpt
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..98b9b2651e3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/ext/readline/tests/bug72538.phpt
@@ -0,0 +1,15 @@
+--TEST--
+Bug #72538 (readline_redisplay crashes php)
+--SKIPIF--
+<?php if (!extension_loaded("readline")) die("skip"); 
+if (READLINE_LIB != "libedit") die("skip libedit only");
+?>
+--FILE--
+<?php 
+
+readline_redisplay();
+
+?>
+okey
+--EXPECT--
+okey