diff --git a/desktop-shell/shell.c b/desktop-shell/shell.c
index ad0a055e4..b5d5e2900 100644
--- a/desktop-shell/shell.c
+++ b/desktop-shell/shell.c
@@ -1786,7 +1786,7 @@ ping_timeout_handler(void *data)
 	shsurf->unresponsive = 1;
 
 	wl_list_for_each(seat, &shsurf->surface->compositor->seat_list, link)
-		if (seat->pointer->focus &&
+		if (seat->pointer && seat->pointer->focus &&
 		    seat->pointer->focus->surface == shsurf->surface)
 			set_busy_cursor(shsurf, seat->pointer);