diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwgui/dialogue.cpp b/apps/openmw/mwgui/dialogue.cpp
index e4d0af424..920183c61 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwgui/dialogue.cpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwgui/dialogue.cpp
@@ -625,7 +625,7 @@ namespace MWGui
     void DialogueWindow::onFrame(float dt)
     {
         checkReferenceAvailable();
-        if(mPtr.getTypeName() == typeid(ESM::NPC).name())
+        if(!mPtr.isEmpty() && mPtr.getTypeName() == typeid(ESM::NPC).name())
         {
             int disp = MWBase::Environment::get().getMechanicsManager()->getDerivedDisposition(mPtr);
             mDispositionBar->setProgressRange(100);