diff --git a/src/mraa.c b/src/mraa.c
index fd9c628..57a2264 100644
--- a/src/mraa.c
+++ b/src/mraa.c
@@ -112,7 +112,7 @@ mraa_boolean_t mraa_is_kernel_chardev_interface_compatible()
 
 mraa_boolean_t mraa_is_platform_chardev_interface_capable()
 {
-    if (plat->chardev_capable) {
+    if ((plat != NULL) && (plat->chardev_capable)) {
         return mraa_is_kernel_chardev_interface_compatible();
     }