diff --git a/game/client/spritemodel.cpp b/game/client/spritemodel.cpp
index 018e918f..ab28e640 100644
--- a/game/client/spritemodel.cpp
+++ b/game/client/spritemodel.cpp
@@ -417,6 +417,9 @@ IMaterial *CEngineSprite::GetMaterial( RenderMode_t nRenderMode, int nFrame )
 	
 	
 	IMaterial *pMaterial = m_material[nRenderMode];
+	if( !pMaterial )
+		return NULL;
+
 	IMaterialVar* pFrameVar = pMaterial->FindVarFast( "$frame", &frameCache );
 	if ( pFrameVar )
 	{
@@ -539,4 +542,4 @@ void CEngineSprite::DrawFrameOfSize( RenderMode_t nRenderMode, int frame, int x,
 
 	meshBuilder.End();
 	pMesh->Draw();
-}
\ No newline at end of file
+}