diff --git a/src/config/ConfigManager.cpp b/src/config/ConfigManager.cpp
index 7eb4a361b..37554ff9b 100644
--- a/src/config/ConfigManager.cpp
+++ b/src/config/ConfigManager.cpp
@@ -1164,8 +1164,10 @@ std::string CConfigManager::parseKeyword(const std::string& COMMAND, const std::
         // manual crash
         if (configValues["debug:manual_crash"].intValue && !m_bManualCrashInitiated) {
             m_bManualCrashInitiated = true;
-            g_pHyprNotificationOverlay->addNotification("Manual crash has been set up. Set debug:manual_crash back to 0 in order to crash the compositor.", CColor(0), 5000,
-                                                        ICON_INFO);
+            if (g_pHyprNotificationOverlay) {
+                g_pHyprNotificationOverlay->addNotification("Manual crash has been set up. Set debug:manual_crash back to 0 in order to crash the compositor.", CColor(0), 5000,
+                                                            ICON_INFO);
+            }
         } else if (m_bManualCrashInitiated && !configValues["debug:manual_crash"].intValue) {
             // cowabunga it is
             g_pHyprRenderer->initiateManualCrash();