diff --git a/src/modules/mavlink/mavlink_orb_subscription.cpp b/src/modules/mavlink/mavlink_orb_subscription.cpp
index 0050ec9fd4..4567f4f410 100644
--- a/src/modules/mavlink/mavlink_orb_subscription.cpp
+++ b/src/modules/mavlink/mavlink_orb_subscription.cpp
@@ -86,8 +86,10 @@ MavlinkOrbSubscription::update(uint64_t *time, void* data)
 	}
 
 	if (orb_copy(_topic, _fd, data)) {
-		/* error copying topic data */
-		memset(data, 0, _topic->o_size);
+		if (data) {
+			/* error copying topic data */
+			memset(data, 0, _topic->o_size);
+		}
 		return false;
 
 	} else {