diff --git a/dlls/d3d9/vertexshader.c b/dlls/d3d9/vertexshader.c
index e4f76b9a9db..034b0979697 100644
--- a/dlls/d3d9/vertexshader.c
+++ b/dlls/d3d9/vertexshader.c
@@ -148,7 +148,7 @@ HRESULT WINAPI IDirect3DDevice9Impl_GetVertexShader(LPDIRECT3DDEVICE9 iface, IDi
 
     TRACE("(%p) : Relay  device@%p\n", This, This->WineD3DDevice);
     hrc = IWineD3DDevice_GetVertexShader(This->WineD3DDevice, &pShader);
-    if(hrc == D3D_OK){
+    if(hrc == D3D_OK && pShader != NULL){
        hrc = IWineD3DVertexShader_GetParent(pShader, (IUnknown **)ppShader);
        IWineD3DVertexShader_Release(pShader);
     } else {