diff --git a/src/d_main.cpp b/src/d_main.cpp
index 5f4f09d4d..1244cc88f 100644
--- a/src/d_main.cpp
+++ b/src/d_main.cpp
@@ -1657,7 +1657,7 @@ static const char *BaseFileSearch (const char *file, const char *ext, bool lookf
 		return wad;
 	}
 
-	if (GameConfig->SetSection ("FileSearch.Directories"))
+	if (GameConfig != NULL && GameConfig->SetSection ("FileSearch.Directories"))
 	{
 		const char *key;
 		const char *value;