diff --git a/src/mame/video/taitojc.c b/src/mame/video/taitojc.c
index 236644662d2..ed080bff40b 100644
--- a/src/mame/video/taitojc.c
+++ b/src/mame/video/taitojc.c
@@ -323,9 +323,17 @@ static void render_shade_scan(void *dest, INT32 scanline, const poly_extent *ext
 	float dz = extent->param[0].dpdx;
 	float dcolor = extent->param[1].dpdx;
 	UINT16 *fb = BITMAP_ADDR16(destmap, scanline, 0);
-	UINT16 *zb = BITMAP_ADDR16(extra->zbuffer, scanline, 0);
+	UINT16 *zb;
 	int x;
 
+	// avoid crash in landgear/dangcurv
+	if (!extra->zbuffer)
+	{
+		return;
+	}
+
+	zb = BITMAP_ADDR16(extra->zbuffer, scanline, 0);
+
 	for (x = extent->startx; x < extent->stopx; x++)
 	{
 		int ic = (int)color & 0xffff;