diff --git a/libs/ardour/ardour/utils.h b/libs/ardour/ardour/utils.h
index 37788b321e..0030ddead8 100644
--- a/libs/ardour/ardour/utils.h
+++ b/libs/ardour/ardour/utils.h
@@ -137,6 +137,7 @@ template<typename T> std::shared_ptr<AutomationControlList> stripable_list_to_co
 
 template<typename T> std::shared_ptr<AutomationControlList> stripable_list_to_control_list (std::shared_ptr<StripableList const> sl, std::shared_ptr<T> (Stripable::*get_control)() const) {
 	std::shared_ptr<AutomationControlList> cl (new AutomationControlList);
+	if (!sl) { return cl; }
 	for (auto const & s : *sl) {
 		std::shared_ptr<AutomationControl> ac = (s.get()->*get_control)();
 		if (ac) {