diff --git a/src/core/composer/qgscomposerscalebar.cpp b/src/core/composer/qgscomposerscalebar.cpp
index b76e3f880f7..f2ceee1d0c4 100644
--- a/src/core/composer/qgscomposerscalebar.cpp
+++ b/src/core/composer/qgscomposerscalebar.cpp
@@ -407,7 +407,7 @@ void QgsComposerScaleBar::adjustBoxSize()
 void QgsComposerScaleBar::update()
 {
   //Don't adjust box size for numeric scale bars:
-  if ( mStyle->name() != "Numeric" )
+  if ( mStyle && mStyle->name() != "Numeric" )
   {
     adjustBoxSize();
   }