diff --git a/reactos/win32ss/gdi/ntgdi/palette.c b/reactos/win32ss/gdi/ntgdi/palette.c
index d471850d5e7..ff600d7ce38 100644
--- a/reactos/win32ss/gdi/ntgdi/palette.c
+++ b/reactos/win32ss/gdi/ntgdi/palette.c
@@ -767,6 +767,11 @@ IntGdiRealizePalette(HDC hDC)
         return 0;
     }
 
+    if (!pdc->dclevel.pSurface)
+    {
+        goto cleanup;
+    }
+
     ppalSurf = pdc->dclevel.pSurface->ppal;
     ppalDC = pdc->dclevel.ppal;