diff --git a/src/payload.c b/src/payload.c
index 4057f6f..f62163c 100644
--- a/src/payload.c
+++ b/src/payload.c
@@ -72,6 +72,9 @@
 
 	chn = ((opt & SMP_OPT_DIR) == SMP_OPT_DIR_RES) ? s->rep : s->req;
 
+	if (!chn)
+		goto not_ssl_hello;
+
 	bleft = chn->buf->i;
 	data = (const unsigned char *)chn->buf->p;
 
@@ -276,6 +279,9 @@
 
 	chn = ((opt & SMP_OPT_DIR) == SMP_OPT_DIR_RES) ? s->rep : s->req;
 
+	if (!chn)
+		goto not_ssl_hello;
+
 	bleft = chn->buf->i;
 	data = (unsigned char *)chn->buf->p;