diff --git a/graphics/java/android/graphics/Typeface.java b/graphics/java/android/graphics/Typeface.java
index f0d5a6a7ddc72..9a404f49f678f 100644
--- a/graphics/java/android/graphics/Typeface.java
+++ b/graphics/java/android/graphics/Typeface.java
@@ -143,6 +143,9 @@ public class Typeface {
 
     // don't allow clients to call this directly
     private Typeface(int ni) {
+        if (ni == 0) {
+            throw new IllegalStateException();
+        }
         native_instance = ni;
     }