diff --git a/src/eval.c b/src/eval.c
index 2315406..510dd12 100644
--- a/src/eval.c
+++ b/src/eval.c
@@ -15249,6 +15249,7 @@
 #endif
 
 #ifdef FEAT_CHANNEL
+    /* If the channel is reading from a buffer, write lines now. */
     channel_write_in(job->jv_channel);
 #endif
 
@@ -22601,7 +22602,11 @@
 #ifdef FEAT_JOB
 	    {
 		job_T *job = varp->vval.v_job;
-		char  *status = job->jv_status == JOB_FAILED ? "fail"
+		char  *status;
+
+		if (job == NULL)
+		    return (char_u *)"no process";
+		status = job->jv_status == JOB_FAILED ? "fail"
 				: job->jv_status == JOB_ENDED ? "dead"
 				: "run";
 # ifdef UNIX
diff --git a/src/testdir/test_channel.vim b/src/testdir/test_channel.vim
index 31a4ff6..5133a24 100644
--- a/src/testdir/test_channel.vim
+++ b/src/testdir/test_channel.vim
@@ -108,6 +108,10 @@
     call assert_false(1, "Can't open channel")
     return
   endif
+  if has('job')
+    " check that no job is handled correctly
+    call assert_equal('no process', string(ch_getjob(handle)))
+  endif
 
   " Simple string request and reply.
   call assert_equal('got it', ch_evalexpr(handle, 'hello!'))
diff --git a/src/version.c b/src/version.c
index 4d8c525..92fb02a 100644
--- a/src/version.c
+++ b/src/version.c
@@ -744,6 +744,8 @@
 static int included_patches[] =
 {   /* Add new patch number below this line */
 /**/
+    1503,
+/**/
     1502,
 /**/
     1501,