diff --git a/drivers/acpi/utils.c b/drivers/acpi/utils.c
index eba55b7d6c95..44ea60cf21c0 100644
--- a/drivers/acpi/utils.c
+++ b/drivers/acpi/utils.c
@@ -407,6 +407,12 @@ acpi_evaluate_reference(acpi_handle handle,
 			break;
 		}
 
+		if (!element->reference.handle) {
+			printk(KERN_WARNING PREFIX "Invalid reference in"
+			       " package %s\n", pathname);
+			status = AE_NULL_ENTRY;
+			break;
+		}
 		/* Get the  acpi_handle. */
 
 		list->handles[i] = element->reference.handle;