diff --git a/src/event-loop.c b/src/event-loop.c
index 9790cde..4a17016 100644
--- a/src/event-loop.c
+++ b/src/event-loop.c
@@ -285,6 +285,9 @@ wl_event_loop_add_idle(struct wl_event_loop *loop,
 		       wl_event_loop_idle_func_t func,
 		       void *data)
 {
+	if (loop == NULL)
+		return NULL;
+
 	struct wl_event_source_idle *source;
 
 	source = malloc(sizeof *source);