diff --git a/libavcodec/qsvenc.c b/libavcodec/qsvenc.c
index 49f61ae6bb..9b71487666 100644
--- a/libavcodec/qsvenc.c
+++ b/libavcodec/qsvenc.c
@@ -1736,7 +1736,7 @@ static int encode_frame(AVCodecContext *avctx, QSVEncContext *q,
         goto free;
     }
 
-    if (ret == MFX_WRN_INCOMPATIBLE_VIDEO_PARAM && frame->interlaced_frame)
+    if (ret == MFX_WRN_INCOMPATIBLE_VIDEO_PARAM && frame && frame->interlaced_frame)
         print_interlace_msg(avctx, q);
 
     ret = 0;