diff --git a/libavcodec/ass_split.c b/libavcodec/ass_split.c
index 2458cb9225..5b6d7af1d1 100644
--- a/libavcodec/ass_split.c
+++ b/libavcodec/ass_split.c
@@ -523,7 +523,7 @@ ASSStyle *ff_ass_style_get(ASSSplitContext *ctx, const char *style)
     if (!style || !*style)
         style = "Default";
     for (i=0; i<ass->styles_count; i++)
-        if (!strcmp(ass->styles[i].name, style))
+        if (ass->styles[i].name && !strcmp(ass->styles[i].name, style))
             return ass->styles + i;
     return NULL;
 }