diff --git a/src/validation.cpp b/src/validation.cpp
index 8613241d6..1030fe1b1 100644
--- a/src/validation.cpp
+++ b/src/validation.cpp
@@ -2538,7 +2538,7 @@ bool ActivateBestChain(CValidationState &state, const CChainParams& chainparams,
     }
 
     int nStopAtHeight = GetArg("-stopatheight", DEFAULT_STOPATHEIGHT);
-    if (nStopAtHeight && pindexNewTip->nHeight >= nStopAtHeight) StartShutdown();
+    if (nStopAtHeight && pindexNewTip && pindexNewTip->nHeight >= nStopAtHeight) StartShutdown();
 
     return true;
 }