diff --git a/misc/ss.c b/misc/ss.c
index e047f9c0..e087bef7 100644
--- a/misc/ss.c
+++ b/misc/ss.c
@@ -1197,10 +1197,15 @@ newline:
 /* Render buffered output with spacing and delimiters, then free up buffers */
 static void render(int screen_width)
 {
-	struct buf_token *token = (struct buf_token *)buffer.head->data;
+	struct buf_token *token;
 	int printed, line_started = 0;
 	struct column *f;
 
+	if (!buffer.head)
+		return;
+
+	token = (struct buf_token *)buffer.head->data;
+
 	/* Ensure end alignment of last token, it wasn't necessarily flushed */
 	buffer.tail->end += buffer.cur->len % 2;