diff --git a/src/mame/drivers/segas16b.cpp b/src/mame/drivers/segas16b.cpp
index 00ce76e02fd..7a9648687c4 100644
--- a/src/mame/drivers/segas16b.cpp
+++ b/src/mame/drivers/segas16b.cpp
@@ -1293,7 +1293,8 @@ void segas16b_state::machine_reset()
 	}
 
 	// ensure the sound bank points somewhere sane
-	membank("soundbank")->set_base(memregion("soundcpu")->base() + 0x10000);
+	if (membank("soundbank"))
+		membank("soundbank")->set_base(memregion("soundcpu")->base() + 0x10000);
 }