diff --git a/modules/packetizer/h264.c b/modules/packetizer/h264.c
index 1893c939670fa57377b0d728b74e269e8cf89570..fa66523c46aa301ce26b0f9aab914dd1b75c0fa7 100644
--- a/modules/packetizer/h264.c
+++ b/modules/packetizer/h264.c
@@ -843,7 +843,8 @@ static block_t *OutputPicture( decoder_t *p_dec )
     }
 
     /* Now rebuild NAL Sequence, inserting PPS/SPS if any */
-    if( p_sys->leading.p_head->i_flags & BLOCK_FLAG_PRIVATE_AUD )
+    if( p_sys->leading.p_head &&
+       (p_sys->leading.p_head->i_flags & BLOCK_FLAG_PRIVATE_AUD) )
     {
         block_t *p_au = p_sys->leading.p_head;
         p_sys->leading.p_head = p_au->p_next;