diff --git a/src/i830_tv.c b/src/i830_tv.c
index 7082aba..6bdaaf1 100644
--- a/src/i830_tv.c
+++ b/src/i830_tv.c
@@ -1821,6 +1821,9 @@ i830_tv_set_property(xf86OutputPtr output, Atom property,
 
 	if (pI830->starting)
 	    return TRUE;
+	if (output->crtc == NULL)
+	    xf86DrvMsg(output->scrn->scrnIndex, X_ERROR,
+		       "Set TV Format Property error CRTC is not available\n");
 
 	/* TV format change will generate new modelines, try
 	   to probe them and update outputs. */