diff --git a/vlc-android/src/org/videolan/vlc/gui/video/VideoPlayerActivity.java b/vlc-android/src/org/videolan/vlc/gui/video/VideoPlayerActivity.java
index a3aced1d5f643bf5d620d0984975283a319575f8..5c83445cf263483ac416abb8f10a63ec615bfc77 100644
--- a/vlc-android/src/org/videolan/vlc/gui/video/VideoPlayerActivity.java
+++ b/vlc-android/src/org/videolan/vlc/gui/video/VideoPlayerActivity.java
@@ -516,6 +516,9 @@ public class VideoPlayerActivity extends Activity {
         @Override
         public void handleMessage(Message msg) {
             VideoPlayerActivity activity = getOwner();
+            if(activity == null) // WeakReference could be GC'ed early
+                return;
+
             switch (msg.what) {
                 case FADE_OUT:
                     activity.hideOverlay(false);