diff --git a/dlls/mshtml/persist.c b/dlls/mshtml/persist.c
index f1310628d88..2e6990207ff 100644
--- a/dlls/mshtml/persist.c
+++ b/dlls/mshtml/persist.c
@@ -268,7 +268,7 @@ static void set_downloading_proc(task_t *_task)
         IDropTarget *drop_target = NULL;
 
         hres = IDocHostUIHandler_GetDropTarget(doc->hostui, NULL /* FIXME */, &drop_target);
-        if(SUCCEEDED(hres)) {
+        if(SUCCEEDED(hres) && drop_target) {
             FIXME("Use IDropTarget\n");
             IDropTarget_Release(drop_target);
         }