diff --git a/libretro-common/string/stdstring.c b/libretro-common/string/stdstring.c
index cf43de9b84..f093621f0d 100644
--- a/libretro-common/string/stdstring.c
+++ b/libretro-common/string/stdstring.c
@@ -38,6 +38,8 @@ bool string_is_equal(const char *a, const char *b)
 
 bool string_is_equal_noncase(const char *a, const char *b)
 {
+   if (!a || !b)
+      return false;
    return (strcasecmp(a, b) == 0);
 }