diff --git a/drivers/platform/x86/sony-laptop.c b/drivers/platform/x86/sony-laptop.c
index e642f5f29504..33c3b8c066ee 100644
--- a/drivers/platform/x86/sony-laptop.c
+++ b/drivers/platform/x86/sony-laptop.c
@@ -808,6 +808,11 @@ static int sony_nc_handles_cleanup(struct platform_device *pd)
 static int sony_find_snc_handle(int handle)
 {
 	int i;
+
+	/* not initialized yet, return early */
+	if (!handles)
+		return -1;
+
 	for (i = 0; i < 0x10; i++) {
 		if (handles->cap[i] == handle) {
 			dprintk("found handle 0x%.4x (offset: 0x%.2x)\n",