diff --git a/tasks/task_image.c b/tasks/task_image.c
index 5919213a1d..ebc477c9c3 100644
--- a/tasks/task_image.c
+++ b/tasks/task_image.c
@@ -404,7 +404,9 @@ error:
 
 void rarch_task_image_load_free(retro_task_t *task)
 {
-   nbio_handle_t       *nbio  = (nbio_handle_t*)task->state;
+   nbio_handle_t       *nbio  = task ? (nbio_handle_t*)task->state : NULL;
+   if (!nbio)
+      return;
    rarch_task_image_load_free_internal(nbio);
 }