diff --git a/src/language.yacc b/src/language.yacc
index babe39321ca1f945450eb83997e33214c1b8be08..56ad073f210f5cbd3da99d9fdb3e1a2754788a9b 100644
--- a/src/language.yacc
+++ b/src/language.yacc
@@ -3749,7 +3749,7 @@ expr4: string
     else
     {
       fix_type_field( $1 );
-      if( $1->type )
+      if( $1 && $1->type )
       {
         $1->type->refs++;