diff --git a/main/sw/source/core/attr/format.cxx b/main/sw/source/core/attr/format.cxx
index 7521ef3..2177b47 100644
--- a/main/sw/source/core/attr/format.cxx
+++ b/main/sw/source/core/attr/format.cxx
@@ -478,7 +478,8 @@ SfxItemState SwFmt::GetItemState( sal_uInt16 nWhich, sal_Bool bSrchInParent, con
 
         // if not, reset pointer and return SFX_ITEM_DEFAULT to signal that
         // the item is not set
-        *ppItem = 0;
+        if( ppItem )
+            *ppItem = 0;
 
         return SFX_ITEM_DEFAULT;
     }