diff --git a/indra/newview/llface.cpp b/indra/newview/llface.cpp
index 50a4925c37..1a174c21ff 100644
--- a/indra/newview/llface.cpp
+++ b/indra/newview/llface.cpp
@@ -983,13 +983,16 @@ void LLFace::getPlanarProjectedParams(LLQuaternion* face_rot, LLVector3* face_po
 {
 	const LLMatrix4& vol_mat = getWorldMatrix();
 	const LLVolumeFace& vf = getViewerObject()->getVolume()->getVolumeFace(mTEOffset);
-	const LLVector4a& normal4a = vf.mNormals[0];
-	const LLVector4a& tangent = vf.mTangents[0];
-	if (!&tangent)
+
+	if( !vf.mNormals || !vf.mTangents )
 	{
+		LL_WARNS( ) << "Volume face without normals or tangents" << LL_ENDL;
 		return;
 	}
 
+	const LLVector4a& normal4a = vf.mNormals[0];
+	const LLVector4a& tangent = vf.mTangents[0];
+
 	LLVector4a binormal4a;
 	binormal4a.setCross3(normal4a, tangent);
 	binormal4a.mul(tangent.getF32ptr()[3]);