diff --git a/src/syntax.c b/src/syntax.c
index 154b759..2141bee 100644
--- a/src/syntax.c
+++ b/src/syntax.c
@@ -5222,7 +5222,7 @@
     for (item = ITEM_START; item <= ITEM_END; ++item)
 	for (ppp = pat_ptrs[item]; ppp != NULL; ppp = ppp_next)
 	{
-	    if (!success)
+	    if (!success && ppp->pp_synp != NULL)
 	    {
 		vim_regfree(ppp->pp_synp->sp_prog);
 		vim_free(ppp->pp_synp->sp_pattern);