diff --git a/src/mame/video/segas32.c b/src/mame/video/segas32.c
index b04df8b8a26..16f9f75d271 100644
--- a/src/mame/video/segas32.c
+++ b/src/mame/video/segas32.c
@@ -210,6 +210,9 @@
 
 void segas32_state::common_start(int multi32)
 {
+	if(!m_gfxdecode->started())
+		throw device_missing_dependencies();
+
 	int tmap;
 
 	/* remember whether or not we are multi32 */