diff --git a/src/space.c b/src/space.c
index 46c38f8a79bf2ed88ee7bfea621469bf8ea03253..241eebfc89b0aac63f9815e610efff28bc8c59c6 100644
--- a/src/space.c
+++ b/src/space.c
@@ -2633,7 +2633,7 @@ void space_list_useful_top_level_cells(struct space *s) {
 
     const int has_particles = (c->hydro.count > 0) || (c->grav.count > 0) ||
                               (c->stars.count > 0) ||
-                              (c->grav.multipole->m_pole.M_000 > 0.f);
+                              (c->grav.multipole != NULL && c->grav.multipole->m_pole.M_000 > 0.f);
 
     if (has_particles) {
       s->cells_with_particles_top[s->nr_cells_with_particles] = i;