diff --git a/indra/newview/llpanelvoiceeffect.cpp b/indra/newview/llpanelvoiceeffect.cpp
index fd470798ee07201d664ce240eb93c7d6f3577e37..68fa9d1e5e517f8b3ef397f34994ffc34693301a 100644
--- a/indra/newview/llpanelvoiceeffect.cpp
+++ b/indra/newview/llpanelvoiceeffect.cpp
@@ -129,6 +129,8 @@ void LLPanelVoiceEffect::update(bool list_updated)
 	if (mVoiceEffectCombo)
 	{
 		LLVoiceEffectInterface* effect_interface = LLVoiceClient::instance().getVoiceEffectInterface();
+		llassert(effect_interface);
+		if (!effect_interface) return;
 		if (list_updated)
 		{
 			// Add the default "No Voice Morph" entry.