diff --git a/src/core/file_sys/patch_manager.cpp b/src/core/file_sys/patch_manager.cpp
index 21d45235e..3a0129edc 100644
--- a/src/core/file_sys/patch_manager.cpp
+++ b/src/core/file_sys/patch_manager.cpp
@@ -359,7 +359,10 @@ static void ApplyLayeredFS(VirtualFile& romfs, u64 title_id, ContentRecordType t
     }
 
     const auto& disabled = Settings::values.disabled_addons[title_id];
-    std::vector<VirtualDir> patch_dirs = load_dir->GetSubdirectories();
+    std::vector<VirtualDir> patch_dirs;
+    if (load_dir) {
+    patch_dirs = load_dir->GetSubdirectories();
+}
     if (std::find(disabled.cbegin(), disabled.cend(), "SDMC") == disabled.cend()) {
         patch_dirs.push_back(sdmc_load_dir);
     }