diff --git a/state/locality_index.go b/state/locality_index.go
index 8d8ef8c4a..933e5a7e2 100644
--- a/state/locality_index.go
+++ b/state/locality_index.go
@@ -201,7 +201,7 @@ func (li *LocalityIndex) MakeContext() *ctxLocalityIdx {
 		file: li.roFiles.Load(),
 		bm:   li.roBmFile.Load(),
 	}
-	if x.file.src != nil {
+	if x.file != nil && x.file.src != nil {
 		x.file.src.refcount.Add(1)
 	}
 	return x