diff --git a/src/game/shared/weapons/genericitem.cpp b/src/game/shared/weapons/genericitem.cpp
index 8f3b3910..8e931507 100644
--- a/src/game/shared/weapons/genericitem.cpp
+++ b/src/game/shared/weapons/genericitem.cpp
@@ -2473,7 +2473,7 @@ int __MsgFunc_Anim(const char* pszName, int iSize, void* pbuf)
 		player.pev->weaponanim = iAnim;
 
 	CGenericItem* pItem = player.Hand(iHand);
-	pItem->m_ViewModelAnim = iAnim;
+	if (pItem) pItem->m_ViewModelAnim = iAnim;
 
 	return 1;
 }