diff --git a/dlls/dwrite/font.c b/dlls/dwrite/font.c
index 0ec581bed5c..191397eb834 100644
--- a/dlls/dwrite/font.c
+++ b/dlls/dwrite/font.c
@@ -793,7 +793,8 @@ static void release_font_collection(IDWriteFontCollection *iface)
 
 void release_system_fontcollection(void)
 {
-    release_font_collection(system_collection);
+    if (system_collection)
+        release_font_collection(system_collection);
 }
 
 HRESULT get_system_fontcollection(IDWriteFontCollection **collection)