diff --git a/source/blender/blenkernel/intern/particle_system.c b/source/blender/blenkernel/intern/particle_system.c
index dc6249b6a15..80d077352bd 100644
--- a/source/blender/blenkernel/intern/particle_system.c
+++ b/source/blender/blenkernel/intern/particle_system.c
@@ -4216,7 +4216,7 @@ void BKE_particlesystem_id_loop(ParticleSystem *psys, ParticleSystemIDFunc func,
 {
 	ParticleTarget *pt;
 
-	func(psys, (ID **)&psys->part, userdata, IDWALK_NOP);
+	func(psys, (ID **)&psys->part, userdata, IDWALK_NEVER_NULL);
 	func(psys, (ID **)&psys->target_ob, userdata, IDWALK_NOP);
 	func(psys, (ID **)&psys->parent, userdata, IDWALK_NOP);