diff --git a/code/AssetLib/MDL/MDLMaterialLoader.cpp b/code/AssetLib/MDL/MDLMaterialLoader.cpp
index 2de43d241..cbb69b697 100644
--- a/code/AssetLib/MDL/MDLMaterialLoader.cpp
+++ b/code/AssetLib/MDL/MDLMaterialLoader.cpp
@@ -448,7 +448,9 @@ void MDLImporter::ParseSkinLump_3DGS_MDL7(
         unsigned int iType,
         unsigned int iWidth,
         unsigned int iHeight) {
-    std::unique_ptr<aiTexture> pcNew;
+    if (szCurrent == nullptr) {
+        return;
+    }
 
     // get the type of the skin
     unsigned int iMasked = (unsigned int)(iType & 0xF);
@@ -468,6 +470,7 @@ void MDLImporter::ParseSkinLump_3DGS_MDL7(
             return;
         }
         
+        std::unique_ptr<aiTexture> pcNew;
         pcNew.reset(new aiTexture);
         pcNew->mHeight = 0;
         pcNew->mWidth = iWidth;