diff --git a/src/g_shared/a_artifacts.cpp b/src/g_shared/a_artifacts.cpp
index 99a4f46d8..5866e8b2a 100644
--- a/src/g_shared/a_artifacts.cpp
+++ b/src/g_shared/a_artifacts.cpp
@@ -72,6 +72,7 @@ DEFINE_FIELD(APowerupGiver, Strength)
 bool APowerupGiver::Use (bool pickup)
 {
 	if (PowerupType == NULL) return true;	// item is useless
+	if (Owner == nullptr) return true;
 
 	APowerup *power = static_cast<APowerup *> (Spawn (PowerupType));