diff --git a/source/blender/blenkernel/intern/node.c b/source/blender/blenkernel/intern/node.c
index 954bb419ea7..a62bfebed45 100644
--- a/source/blender/blenkernel/intern/node.c
+++ b/source/blender/blenkernel/intern/node.c
@@ -2885,7 +2885,8 @@ void ntreeUpdateTree(bNodeTree *ntree)
 		ntreeInterfaceTypeUpdate(ntree);
 	
 	/* XXX hack, should be done by depsgraph!! */
-	ntreeVerifyNodes(G.main, &ntree->id);
+	if (G.main)
+		ntreeVerifyNodes(G.main, &ntree->id);
 	
 	if (ntree->update & (NTREE_UPDATE_LINKS | NTREE_UPDATE_NODES)) {
 		/* node updates can change sockets or links, repeat link pointer update afterward */