diff --git a/src/autofit/afloader.c b/src/autofit/afloader.c
index e55183a50..733354d13 100644
--- a/src/autofit/afloader.c
+++ b/src/autofit/afloader.c
@@ -216,7 +216,7 @@
     FT_Error  error;
 
     FT_Size           size          = face->size;
-    FT_Size_Internal  size_internal = size->internal;
+    FT_Size_Internal  size_internal = NULL;
     FT_GlyphSlot      slot          = face->glyph;
     FT_Slot_Internal  slot_internal = slot->internal;
     FT_GlyphLoader    gloader       = slot_internal->loader;
@@ -232,6 +232,8 @@
     if ( !size )
       return FT_THROW( Invalid_Size_Handle );
 
+    size_internal = size->internal;
+
     FT_ZERO( &scaler );
 
     if ( !size_internal->autohint_metrics.x_scale                          ||