diff --git a/src/eval.c b/src/eval.c
index 57742c0..0c410ef 100644
--- a/src/eval.c
+++ b/src/eval.c
@@ -712,6 +712,10 @@ matcher_init_matching_inner(apfl_ctx ctx, struct matcher *matcher)
     struct apfl_value value = apfl_stack_must_get(ctx, -1);
     must_tmproot_add_value(ctx, value);
 
+    if (matcher == NULL) {
+        apfl_raise_const_error(ctx, APFL_RESULT_ERR, apfl_messages.corrupted_bytecode);
+    }
+
     struct matcher_call_stack_entry matcher_cse = {
         .pc = 0,
         .matcher = matcher,