diff --git a/src/sfnt/ttkern.c b/src/sfnt/ttkern.c
index 5634267de..ca1c50940 100644
--- a/src/sfnt/ttkern.c
+++ b/src/sfnt/ttkern.c
@@ -190,10 +190,16 @@
     FT_Int   result = 0;
     FT_UInt  count, mask;
 
-    FT_Byte*  p       = face->kern_table;
-    FT_Byte*  p_limit = p + face->kern_table_size;
+    FT_Byte*  p;
+    FT_Byte*  p_limit;
 
 
+    if ( !face->kern_table )
+      return result;
+
+    p       = face->kern_table;
+    p_limit = p + face->kern_table_size;
+
     p   += 4;
     mask = 0x0001;