diff --git a/include/cppgit2/diff.hpp b/include/cppgit2/diff.hpp
index 16bac9d..0dabe9b 100644
--- a/include/cppgit2/diff.hpp
+++ b/include/cppgit2/diff.hpp
@@ -611,7 +611,7 @@ class diff : public libgit2_api {
   // the delta.
   class hunk : public libgit2_api {
   public:
-    hunk(const git_diff_hunk *c_ptr) : c_struct_(*c_ptr) {}
+    hunk(const git_diff_hunk *c_ptr) : c_struct_(c_ptr ? *c_ptr : git_diff_hunk{0}) {}
 
     // Starting line number in old_file
     int old_start() const { return c_struct_.old_start; }
@@ -898,4 +898,4 @@ ENABLE_BITMASK_OPERATORS(diff::stats::format);
 ENABLE_BITMASK_OPERATORS(diff::format_email_flag);
 ENABLE_BITMASK_OPERATORS(diff::find_flag);
 
-} // namespace cppgit2
\ No newline at end of file
+} // namespace cppgit2