diff --git a/src/acl.c b/src/acl.c
index 73fdf7207..370d696c0 100644
--- a/src/acl.c
+++ b/src/acl.c
@@ -171,7 +171,9 @@ struct acl_expr *parse_acl_expr(const char **args, char **err, struct arg_list *
 	if (aclkw) {
 		/* OK we have a real ACL keyword */
 
-		al->kw = aclkw->kw;
+		if (al)
+			al->kw = aclkw->kw;
+
 		/* build new sample expression for this ACL */
 		smp = calloc(1, sizeof(*smp));
 		if (!smp) {