diff --git a/libmpdemux/demux_mpg.c b/libmpdemux/demux_mpg.c
index ce5064cf7e..0ae582632e 100644
--- a/libmpdemux/demux_mpg.c
+++ b/libmpdemux/demux_mpg.c
@@ -417,7 +417,7 @@ int demux_mpg_control(demuxer_t *demuxer,int cmd, void *arg){
 
     switch(cmd) {
 	case DEMUXER_CTRL_GET_TIME_LENGTH:
-	    if(!sh_video->i_bps)  // unspecified or VBR 
+	    if(!sh_video || !sh_video->i_bps)  // unspecified or VBR 
     		return DEMUXER_CTRL_DONTKNOW;
 	    *((unsigned long *)arg)=(demuxer->movi_end-demuxer->movi_start)/sh_video->i_bps;
 	    return DEMUXER_CTRL_GUESS;