diff --git a/src/ep_bitmap.c b/src/ep_bitmap.c
index 203e784..160ada9 100755
--- a/src/ep_bitmap.c
+++ b/src/ep_bitmap.c
@@ -126,7 +126,8 @@ PyObject *Epython_wrap_bitmap(PBITMAP pbmp)
 	  {
 	    pbitmapobj = (BitmapObject *)rc;
 		Log(LDEBUG, "gonna delete bitmap");
-		BMP_Delete(pbitmapobj->pbmp);
+		if (pbitmapobj->pbmp)
+		  BMP_Delete(pbitmapobj->pbmp);
 		Log(LDEBUG, "deleted bitmap");
 		pbitmapobj->pbmp = pbmp;
 	  }