diff --git a/src/gui/vector/qgsdiagramproperties.cpp b/src/gui/vector/qgsdiagramproperties.cpp
index 81517c82bb88..1b9594207adf 100644
--- a/src/gui/vector/qgsdiagramproperties.cpp
+++ b/src/gui/vector/qgsdiagramproperties.cpp
@@ -422,7 +422,7 @@ void QgsDiagramProperties::insertDefaults()
 void QgsDiagramProperties::syncToLayer()
 {
   const QgsDiagramRenderer *renderer = mLayer->diagramRenderer();
-  if ( renderer->rendererName() == QgsStackedDiagramRenderer::DIAGRAM_RENDERER_NAME_STACKED )
+  if ( renderer && renderer->rendererName() == QgsStackedDiagramRenderer::DIAGRAM_RENDERER_NAME_STACKED )
   {
     const QgsStackedDiagramRenderer *stackedRenderer = static_cast< const QgsStackedDiagramRenderer *>( renderer );
     if ( stackedRenderer->rendererCount() > 0 )