diff --git a/drivers/block/mtip32xx/mtip32xx.c b/drivers/block/mtip32xx/mtip32xx.c
index adc6f36564cf3c9f214ca37c9b3cf8faffbe6cf8..dfb7196bbde9551ff93701bc4e312cbd63d58dd3 100644
--- a/drivers/block/mtip32xx/mtip32xx.c
+++ b/drivers/block/mtip32xx/mtip32xx.c
@@ -2218,8 +2218,8 @@ static int exec_drive_taskfile(struct driver_data *dd,
 		fis.device);
 
 	/* check for erase mode support during secure erase.*/
-	if ((fis.command == ATA_CMD_SEC_ERASE_UNIT)
-					&& (outbuf[0] & MTIP_SEC_ERASE_MODE)) {
+	if ((fis.command == ATA_CMD_SEC_ERASE_UNIT) && outbuf &&
+					(outbuf[0] & MTIP_SEC_ERASE_MODE)) {
 		erasemode = 1;
 	}