diff --git a/src/openrct2/management/NewsItem.cpp b/src/openrct2/management/NewsItem.cpp
index 733d829221..82b21df121 100644
--- a/src/openrct2/management/NewsItem.cpp
+++ b/src/openrct2/management/NewsItem.cpp
@@ -70,7 +70,8 @@ NewsItem * news_item_get(sint32 index)
 
 bool news_item_is_empty(sint32 index)
 {
-    return news_item_get(index)->Type == NEWS_ITEM_NULL;
+    NewsItem * news = news_item_get(index);
+    return news != nullptr && news->Type == NEWS_ITEM_NULL;
 }
 
 bool news_item_is_queue_empty()