diff --git a/backend.h b/backend.h
index fadc94b..2433c91 100644
--- a/backend.h
+++ b/backend.h
@@ -154,7 +154,7 @@
 	master->block_size_shift = 34;
 #endif
 
-	if (!master->ops->init)
+	if (!(master && master->ops && master->ops->init))
 		return -ENOTSUP;
 
 	rc = master->ops->init(master, data);