diff --git a/src/game/behaviors/water_splashes_and_waves.inc.c b/src/game/behaviors/water_splashes_and_waves.inc.c
index 666fc62b..f0ddc13c 100644
--- a/src/game/behaviors/water_splashes_and_waves.inc.c
+++ b/src/game/behaviors/water_splashes_and_waves.inc.c
@@ -76,11 +76,13 @@ void bhv_water_droplet_loop(void) {
             // Create the smaller splash
             struct Object* small = try_to_spawn_object(0, 1.0f, o, MODEL_SMALL_WATER_SPLASH, bhvWaterDropletSplash);
 
-            // immediately update render position
-            small->parentObj = NULL;
-            small->header.gfx.pos[0] = o->oPosX;
-            small->header.gfx.pos[1] = o->oPosY;
-            small->header.gfx.pos[2] = o->oPosZ;
+            if (small != NULL) {
+                // immediately update render position
+                small->parentObj = NULL;
+                small->header.gfx.pos[0] = o->oPosX;
+                small->header.gfx.pos[1] = o->oPosY;
+                small->header.gfx.pos[2] = o->oPosZ;
+            }
 
             obj_mark_for_deletion(o);
         } else if (o->oTimer > 20)