diff --git a/main/main.c b/main/main.c
index f0898534610..b926d5661a5 100644
--- a/main/main.c
+++ b/main/main.c
@@ -1263,7 +1263,8 @@ PHPAPI int php_lint_script(zend_file_handle *file CLS_DC ELS_DC PLS_DC)
 
 	op_array = zend_compile_file(file, ZEND_INCLUDE CLS_CC);
 	retval = (op_array?SUCCESS:FAILURE);
-	destroy_op_array(op_array);
+	/* SMC op_array may be NULL */
+	if (op_array != NULL) destroy_op_array(op_array);
 
 	return retval;
 }