diff --git a/source/games/duke/src/actors_d.cpp b/source/games/duke/src/actors_d.cpp
index 68ee6de1f..57254bb22 100644
--- a/source/games/duke/src/actors_d.cpp
+++ b/source/games/duke/src/actors_d.cpp
@@ -106,7 +106,7 @@ void SerializeActorGlobals(FSerializer& arc)
 
 bool ceilingspace_d(sectortype* sectp)
 {
-	if( (sectp->ceilingstat&1) && sectp->ceilingpal == 0 )
+	if (sectp && (sectp->ceilingstat&1) && sectp->ceilingpal == 0)
 	{
 		switch(sectp->ceilingpicnum)
 		{
diff --git a/source/games/duke/src/actors_r.cpp b/source/games/duke/src/actors_r.cpp
index ce715ca60..a38c5caec 100644
--- a/source/games/duke/src/actors_r.cpp
+++ b/source/games/duke/src/actors_r.cpp
@@ -53,7 +53,7 @@ void resetlanepics(void);
 
 bool ceilingspace_r(sectortype* sectp)
 {
-	if( (sectp->ceilingstat&1) && sectp->ceilingpal == 0 )
+	if (sectp && (sectp->ceilingstat&1) && sectp->ceilingpal == 0)
 	{
 		switch(sectp->ceilingpicnum)
 		{