diff --git a/lib/server.c b/lib/server.c
index 668f6f1f6..69b0e8a97 100644
--- a/lib/server.c
+++ b/lib/server.c
@@ -777,7 +777,7 @@ lws_http_action(struct lws *wsi)
 
 	/* we insist on absolute paths */
 
-	if (uri_ptr[0] != '/') {
+	if (!uri_ptr || uri_ptr[0] != '/') {
 		lws_return_http_status(wsi, HTTP_STATUS_FORBIDDEN, NULL);
 
 		goto bail_nuke_ah;