diff --git a/drivers/md/raid5-log.h b/drivers/md/raid5-log.h
index c8332502669e..5a144051b142 100644
--- a/drivers/md/raid5-log.h
+++ b/drivers/md/raid5-log.h
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ static inline bool raid5_has_log(struct r5conf *conf)
 
 static inline bool raid5_has_ppl(struct r5conf *conf)
 {
-	return test_bit(MD_HAS_PPL, &conf->mddev->flags);
+	return conf->mddev && test_bit(MD_HAS_PPL, &conf->mddev->flags);
 }
 
 static inline int log_stripe(struct stripe_head *sh, struct stripe_head_state *s)