diff --git a/datapoollocal/LocalDataPoolManager.h b/datapoollocal/LocalDataPoolManager.h
index d06cf2c6a..2ec81f1cf 100644
--- a/datapoollocal/LocalDataPoolManager.h
+++ b/datapoollocal/LocalDataPoolManager.h
@@ -391,6 +391,10 @@ protected:
 
 template<class T> inline
 ReturnValue_t LocalDataPoolManager::fetchPoolEntry(lp_id_t localPoolId, PoolEntry<T> **poolEntry) {
+    if(poolEntry == nullptr) {
+        return HasReturnvaluesIF::RETURN_FAILED;
+    }
+
     auto poolIter = localPoolMap.find(localPoolId);
     if (poolIter == localPoolMap.end()) {
         printWarningOrError(sif::OutputTypes::OUT_WARNING, "fetchPoolEntry",