diff --git a/core/jni/android/graphics/BitmapFactory.cpp b/core/jni/android/graphics/BitmapFactory.cpp
index 47ed2c1723e1b..3a6c5b0f8e137 100644
--- a/core/jni/android/graphics/BitmapFactory.cpp
+++ b/core/jni/android/graphics/BitmapFactory.cpp
@@ -360,6 +360,9 @@ static jobject doDecode(JNIEnv* env, SkStream* stream, jobject padding,
         // already have a pixelref installed.
         pr = bitmap->pixelRef();
     }
+    if (pr == NULL) {
+        return nullObjectReturn("Got null SkPixelRef");
+    }
 
     if (!isMutable) {
         // promise we will never change our pixels (great for sharing and pictures)