diff --git a/cJSON.c b/cJSON.c
index 0f6d5e9..3c819bd 100644
--- a/cJSON.c
+++ b/cJSON.c
@@ -230,7 +230,7 @@ static const char *parse_object(cJSON *item,const char *value);
 static char *print_object(cJSON *item,int depth,int fmt);
 
 /* Utility to jump whitespace and cr/lf */
-static const char *skip(const char *in) {while (in && (unsigned char)*in<=32) in++; return in;}
+static const char *skip(const char *in) {while (in && *in && (unsigned char)*in<=32) in++; return in;}
 
 /* Parse an object - create a new root, and populate. */
 cJSON *cJSON_Parse(const char *value)