diff --git a/src/dird/dird_conf.c b/src/dird/dird_conf.c
index 9a40a03abf5..5df83e9a5ca 100644
--- a/src/dird/dird_conf.c
+++ b/src/dird/dird_conf.c
@@ -1325,7 +1325,7 @@ bool JOBRES::validate()
          return false;
       }
 
-      if (!storage && !pool->storage) {
+      if (!storage && (!pool || !pool->storage)) {
          Jmsg(NULL, M_ERROR, 0, _("No storage specified in Job \"%s\" nor in Pool.\n"), name());
          return false;
       }