diff --git a/src/Player.cpp b/src/Player.cpp
index 75da9f0ca0..e8fd8ad661 100644
--- a/src/Player.cpp
+++ b/src/Player.cpp
@@ -1443,15 +1443,20 @@ void Player::UpdateHoldNotes( int iSongRow, float fDeltaTime, vector<TrackRowTap
 		tn.HoldResult.fLife = fLife;
 		tn.HoldResult.hns = hns;
 		// Stop the playing keysound for the hold note.
-		// I think this causes crashes too. -aj (Possibly fixed. -?)
+		// I think this causes crashes too. -aj
+		// This can still crash. I think it expects a full game and quit before the preference works:
+		// otherwise, it causes problems on holds. At least, that hapened on my Mac. -wolfman2000
 
 		Preference<float> *pVolume = Preference<float>::GetPreferenceByName("SoundVolume");
-		float fVol = pVolume->Get();
-
-		if( tn.iKeysoundIndex >= 0 && tn.iKeysoundIndex < (int) m_vKeysounds.size() )
+		if (pVolume != NULL)
 		{
-			float factor = (tn.subType == TapNote::hold_head_roll ? 2.0f * fLifeFraction : 10.0f * fLifeFraction - 8.5f);
-			m_vKeysounds[tn.iKeysoundIndex].SetProperty ("Volume", max(0.0f, min(1.0f, factor)) * fVol);
+			float fVol = pVolume->Get();
+
+			if( tn.iKeysoundIndex >= 0 && tn.iKeysoundIndex < (int) m_vKeysounds.size() )
+			{
+				float factor = (tn.subType == TapNote::hold_head_roll ? 2.0f * fLifeFraction : 10.0f * fLifeFraction - 8.5f);
+				m_vKeysounds[tn.iKeysoundIndex].SetProperty ("Volume", max(0.0f, min(1.0f, factor)) * fVol);
+			}
 		}
 	}