diff --git a/sys/contrib/dev/acpica/exstore.c b/sys/contrib/dev/acpica/exstore.c
index 91ecfd89846..4f5511768d2 100644
--- a/sys/contrib/dev/acpica/exstore.c
+++ b/sys/contrib/dev/acpica/exstore.c
@@ -389,7 +389,7 @@ AcpiExStoreObjectToIndex (
 
             /* If same as the original source, add a reference */
 
-            if (NewDesc == SourceDesc)
+            if (NewDesc == SourceDesc || ObjDesc == NULL)
             {
                 AcpiUtAddReference (NewDesc);
             }