diff --git a/src/osgText/FadeText.cpp b/src/osgText/FadeText.cpp
index 56d15998c..b1756ed34 100644
--- a/src/osgText/FadeText.cpp
+++ b/src/osgText/FadeText.cpp
@@ -349,7 +349,6 @@ void FadeText::init()
 
 void FadeText::drawImplementation(osg::RenderInfo& renderInfo) const
 {
-
     osg::State& state = *renderInfo.getState();
 
     ViewBlendColourMap::iterator itr = _viewBlendColourMap.find(renderInfo.getView());
@@ -385,7 +384,7 @@ void FadeText::drawImplementation(osg::RenderInfo& renderInfo) const
         renderInfo.setUserData(userData);
     }
 
-    unsigned int frameNumber = renderInfo.getState()->getFrameStamp()->getFrameNumber();
+    unsigned int frameNumber = renderInfo.getState()->getFrameStamp() ? renderInfo.getState()->getFrameStamp()->getFrameNumber() : 0;
     if (frameNumber != userData->_frameNumber)
     {
         // new frame so must reset UserData structure.