diff --git a/src/Player.cpp b/src/Player.cpp
index d2ed73ce77..8728e7afc8 100644
--- a/src/Player.cpp
+++ b/src/Player.cpp
@@ -3266,14 +3266,13 @@ void Player::HandleHoldCheckpoint(int iRow,
 	if( iNumHoldsMissedThisRow == 0 )
 	{
 		// added for http://ssc.ajworld.net/sm-ssc/bugtracker/view.php?id=16 -aj
-		if( CHECKPOINTS_FLASH_ON_HOLD )
+		if( CHECKPOINTS_FLASH_ON_HOLD && m_pNoteField != nullptr)
 		{
 			for (int const &i : viColsWithHold)
 			{
 				bool bBright = m_pPlayerStageStats 
 					&& m_pPlayerStageStats->m_iCurCombo>(int)BRIGHT_GHOST_COMBO_THRESHOLD;
-				if( m_pNoteField )
-					m_pNoteField->DidHoldNote( i, HNS_Held, bBright );
+				m_pNoteField->DidHoldNote( i, HNS_Held, bBright );
 			}
 		}
 	}