diff --git a/plugins/producer_plugin/producer_plugin.cpp b/plugins/producer_plugin/producer_plugin.cpp
index bd4041676d..87bfb77064 100644
--- a/plugins/producer_plugin/producer_plugin.cpp
+++ b/plugins/producer_plugin/producer_plugin.cpp
@@ -736,7 +736,7 @@ class producer_plugin_impl : public std::enable_shared_from_this<producer_plugin
 
       const auto& hb = chain.head_block();
       now             = fc::time_point::now();
-      if (hb->timestamp.next().to_time_point() >= now) {
+      if (hb && hb->timestamp.next().to_time_point() >= now) {
          _production_enabled = true;
       }