diff --git a/src/modules/AdminModule.cpp b/src/modules/AdminModule.cpp
index 9e8ce2e6b..407003f7e 100644
--- a/src/modules/AdminModule.cpp
+++ b/src/modules/AdminModule.cpp
@@ -505,7 +505,7 @@ bool AdminModule::handleReceivedProtobuf(const meshtastic_MeshPacket &mp, meshta
     if (mp.decoded.want_response && !myReply) {
         myReply = allocErrorResponse(meshtastic_Routing_Error_NONE, &mp);
     }
-    if (mp.pki_encrypted) {
+    if (mp.pki_encrypted && myReply) {
         myReply->pki_encrypted = true;
     }
     return handled;