diff --git a/lib/secure-streams/secure-streams.c b/lib/secure-streams/secure-streams.c
index 985fe7c3e..14dd1de6a 100644
--- a/lib/secure-streams/secure-streams.c
+++ b/lib/secure-streams/secure-streams.c
@@ -1425,6 +1425,12 @@ _lws_ss_request_tx(lws_ss_handle_t *h)
 		return LWSSSSRET_OK;
 	}
 
+	if (!h->policy) {
+		/* avoid crash */
+		lwsl_err("%s: null policy\n", __func__);
+		return LWSSSSRET_OK;
+	}
+
 	if (h->policy->flags & LWSSSPOLF_SERVER)
 		return LWSSSSRET_OK;