diff --git a/libavutil/frame.c b/libavutil/frame.c
index 4596927f97..4ae75ef5d2 100644
--- a/libavutil/frame.c
+++ b/libavutil/frame.c
@@ -463,6 +463,9 @@ void av_frame_unref(AVFrame *frame)
 {
     int i;
 
+    if (!frame)
+        return;
+
     wipe_side_data(frame);
 
     for (i = 0; i < FF_ARRAY_ELEMS(frame->buf); i++)