diff --git a/lib/ckpt.c b/lib/ckpt.c
index acb4740b..2f256581 100644
--- a/lib/ckpt.c
+++ b/lib/ckpt.c
@@ -219,6 +219,9 @@ saCkptSelectionObjectGet (
 	struct ckptInstance *ckptInstance;
 	SaAisErrorT error;
 
+	if (selectionObject == NULL) {
+		return (SA_AIS_ERR_INVALID_PARAM);
+	}
 	error = saHandleInstanceGet (&ckptHandleDatabase, ckptHandle, (void *)&ckptInstance);
 	if (error != SA_AIS_OK) {
 		return (error);