diff --git a/wled00/set.cpp b/wled00/set.cpp
index c446a2eff4..712e5f254a 100644
--- a/wled00/set.cpp
+++ b/wled00/set.cpp
@@ -1191,7 +1191,7 @@ bool handleSet(AsyncWebServerRequest *request, const String& req, bool apply)
 
   // internal call, does not send XML response
   pos = req.indexOf(F("IN"));
-  if (pos < 1) {
+  if ((request != nullptr) && (pos < 1)) {
     auto response = request->beginResponseStream("text/xml");
     XML_response(*response);
     request->send(response);