diff --git a/dlls/comctl32/listview.c b/dlls/comctl32/listview.c
index fae74b1bfac..bdb21ae665d 100644
--- a/dlls/comctl32/listview.c
+++ b/dlls/comctl32/listview.c
@@ -7272,6 +7272,7 @@ static BOOL LISTVIEW_SortItems(LISTVIEW_INFO *infoPtr, PFNLVCOMPARE pfnCompare,
 
     if (infoPtr->dwStyle & LVS_OWNERDATA) return FALSE;
 
+    if (!pfnCompare) return FALSE;
     if (!infoPtr->hdpaItems) return FALSE;
 
     /* if there are 0 or 1 items, there is no need to sort */