diff --git a/src/video/windows/SDL_windowsmessagebox.c b/src/video/windows/SDL_windowsmessagebox.c
index 8c6ed93ed..5bf464fa5 100644
--- a/src/video/windows/SDL_windowsmessagebox.c
+++ b/src/video/windows/SDL_windowsmessagebox.c
@@ -314,7 +314,7 @@ static SDL_bool AddDialogControl(WIN_DialogData *dialog, WORD type, DWORD style,
     if (!AddDialogData(dialog, &type, sizeof(type))) {
         return SDL_FALSE;
     }
-    if (type == DLGITEMTYPEBUTTON || (type == DLGITEMTYPESTATIC && caption[0])) {
+    if (type == DLGITEMTYPEBUTTON || (type == DLGITEMTYPESTATIC && caption != NULL && caption[0])) {
         if (!AddDialogString(dialog, caption)) {
             return SDL_FALSE;
         }