diff --git a/cJSON.c b/cJSON.c
index 524ba46..d7aeecd 100644
--- a/cJSON.c
+++ b/cJSON.c
@@ -2291,7 +2291,7 @@ CJSON_PUBLIC(cJSON_bool) cJSON_InsertItemInArray(cJSON *array, int which, cJSON
 
 CJSON_PUBLIC(cJSON_bool) cJSON_ReplaceItemViaPointer(cJSON * const parent, cJSON * const item, cJSON * replacement)
 {
-    if ((parent == NULL) || (replacement == NULL) || (item == NULL))
+    if ((parent == NULL) || (parent->child == NULL) || (replacement == NULL) || (item == NULL))
     {
         return false;
     }