diff --git a/drivers/gpu/drm/nouveau/nv50_fbcon.c b/drivers/gpu/drm/nouveau/nv50_fbcon.c
index 52068a0..9c7ef69 100644
--- a/drivers/gpu/drm/nouveau/nv50_fbcon.c
+++ b/drivers/gpu/drm/nouveau/nv50_fbcon.c
@@ -131,6 +131,7 @@ nv50_fbcon_imageblit(struct fb_info *info, const struct fb_image *image)
 	while (dwords) {
 		int push = dwords > 2047 ? 2047 : dwords;
 
+		BUG_ON(!data);
 		ret = RING_SPACE(chan, push + 1);
 		if (ret)
 			return ret;