diff --git a/Generals/Code/GameEngine/Source/GameLogic/AI/AITNGuard.cpp b/Generals/Code/GameEngine/Source/GameLogic/AI/AITNGuard.cpp
index d1ec1c6fc3d..3b0dd2228b1 100644
--- a/Generals/Code/GameEngine/Source/GameLogic/AI/AITNGuard.cpp
+++ b/Generals/Code/GameEngine/Source/GameLogic/AI/AITNGuard.cpp
@@ -501,6 +501,10 @@ StateReturnType AITNGuardOuterState::onEnter()
 //--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 StateReturnType AITNGuardOuterState::update()
 {
+	if (m_attackState == nullptr) {
+		return STATE_SUCCESS;
+	}
+
 	Object *owner = getMachineOwner();
 	Object* goalObj = m_attackState->getMachineGoalObject();
 	if (goalObj)
diff --git a/GeneralsMD/Code/GameEngine/Source/GameLogic/AI/AITNGuard.cpp b/GeneralsMD/Code/GameEngine/Source/GameLogic/AI/AITNGuard.cpp
index a475add6e1e..23e2eaabe51 100644
--- a/GeneralsMD/Code/GameEngine/Source/GameLogic/AI/AITNGuard.cpp
+++ b/GeneralsMD/Code/GameEngine/Source/GameLogic/AI/AITNGuard.cpp
@@ -501,6 +501,10 @@ StateReturnType AITNGuardOuterState::onEnter()
 //--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 StateReturnType AITNGuardOuterState::update()
 {
+	if (m_attackState == nullptr) {
+		return STATE_SUCCESS;
+	}
+
 	Object *owner = getMachineOwner();
 	Object* goalObj = m_attackState->getMachineGoalObject();
 	if (goalObj)