diff --git a/fs/jffs2/nodelist.c b/fs/jffs2/nodelist.c
index 5d36e9b..927dfe4 100644
--- a/fs/jffs2/nodelist.c
+++ b/fs/jffs2/nodelist.c
@@ -1139,7 +1139,7 @@
 		BUG();
 	}
 	/* REF_EMPTY_NODE is !obsolete, so that works OK */
-	if (ref_obsolete(jeb->last_node)) {
+	if (jeb->last_node && ref_obsolete(jeb->last_node)) {
 #ifdef TEST_TOTLEN
 		jeb->last_node->__totlen += size;
 #endif