diff --git a/arc.m b/arc.m
index 719ed9d..321e532 100644
--- a/arc.m
+++ b/arc.m
@@ -856,8 +856,9 @@ OBJC_PUBLIC id objc_loadWeakRetained(id* addr)
 	if (obj == nil)
 	{
 		// If we've destroyed this weak ref, then make sure that we also deallocate the object.
-		if (weakRefRelease(ref))
+		if (ref != NULL)
 		{
+			weakRefRelease(ref);
 			*addr = nil;
 		}
 		return nil;