diff --git a/caca/figfont.c b/caca/figfont.c
index 727fc69..54eb35c 100644
--- a/caca/figfont.c
+++ b/caca/figfont.c
@@ -132,6 +132,9 @@ int caca_put_figchar(caca_canvas_t *cv, uint32_t ch)
     caca_figfont_t *ff = cv->ff;
     int c, w, h, x, y, overlap, extra, xleft, xright;
 
+    if (!ff) 
+        return -1;
+
     switch(ch)
     {
         case (uint32_t)'\r':