diff --git a/Generals/Code/GameEngine/Source/Common/RTS/Team.cpp b/Generals/Code/GameEngine/Source/Common/RTS/Team.cpp
index c9016d189ad..3727db6b2e7 100644
--- a/Generals/Code/GameEngine/Source/Common/RTS/Team.cpp
+++ b/Generals/Code/GameEngine/Source/Common/RTS/Team.cpp
@@ -364,9 +364,9 @@ Team *TeamFactory::createInactiveTeam(const AsciiString& name)
 // ------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Team *TeamFactory::createTeam(const AsciiString& name)
 {
-	Team *t = NULL;
-	t = createInactiveTeam(name);
-	t->setActive();
+	Team *t = createInactiveTeam(name);
+	if (t)
+		t->setActive();
 	return t;
 }