diff --git a/src/hardware/hw_main.c b/src/hardware/hw_main.c
index 599c39132..c14509c8a 100644
--- a/src/hardware/hw_main.c
+++ b/src/hardware/hw_main.c
@@ -5521,7 +5521,7 @@ void HWR_RenderPlayerView(INT32 viewnumber, player_t *player)
 // Can't have palette rendering if shaders are disabled.
 boolean HWR_ShouldUsePaletteRendering(void)
 {
-	return (cv_glpaletterendering.value && HWR_UseShader());
+	return (pMasterPalette != NULL && cv_glpaletterendering.value && HWR_UseShader());
 }
 
 // enable or disable palette rendering state depending on settings and availability