diff --git a/src/gallium/drivers/nouveau/nouveau_screen.c b/src/gallium/drivers/nouveau/nouveau_screen.c
index ec6c731d7d8..33ac4d92374 100644
--- a/src/gallium/drivers/nouveau/nouveau_screen.c
+++ b/src/gallium/drivers/nouveau/nouveau_screen.c
@@ -80,7 +80,8 @@ nouveau_screen_fence_ref(struct pipe_screen *pscreen,
                          struct pipe_fence_handle **ptr,
                          struct pipe_fence_handle *pfence)
 {
-   nouveau_fence_ref(nouveau_fence(pfence), (struct nouveau_fence **)ptr);
+   nouveau_fence_ref((pfence ? nouveau_fence(pfence) : NULL),
+                     (ptr ? (struct nouveau_fence **)ptr : NULL));
 }
 
 static bool