diff --git a/lib/checkother.cpp b/lib/checkother.cpp
index e264cbf82..7ae70da23 100644
--- a/lib/checkother.cpp
+++ b/lib/checkother.cpp
@@ -1265,7 +1265,7 @@ void CheckOther::checkPassByReference()
 
         bool inconclusive = false;
 
-        if (var->valueType()->type == ValueType::Type::CONTAINER) {
+        if (var->valueType() && var->valueType()->type == ValueType::Type::CONTAINER) {
         } else if (var->type() && !var->type()->isEnumType()) { // Check if type is a struct or class.
             // Ensure that it is a large object.
             if (!var->type()->classScope)