diff --git a/src/main.cpp b/src/main.cpp
index 1aafc6c26..2895e888e 100644
--- a/src/main.cpp
+++ b/src/main.cpp
@@ -4534,6 +4534,8 @@ bool InitBlockIndex() {
             if (!WriteBlockToDisk(block, blockPos, chainparams.MessageStart()))
                 return error("LoadBlockIndex(): writing genesis block to disk failed");
             CBlockIndex *pindex = AddToBlockIndex(block);
+            if ( pindex == 0 )
+                return error("LoadBlockIndex(): couldnt add to block index");
             if (!ReceivedBlockTransactions(block, state, pindex, blockPos))
                 return error("LoadBlockIndex(): genesis block not accepted");
             if (!ActivateBestChain(state, &block))