diff --git a/src/mesa/tnl/t_vb_arbprogram.c b/src/mesa/tnl/t_vb_arbprogram.c
index fd7ffcd84c8..c55fc84feaa 100644
--- a/src/mesa/tnl/t_vb_arbprogram.c
+++ b/src/mesa/tnl/t_vb_arbprogram.c
@@ -1354,7 +1354,11 @@ validate_vertex_program( GLcontext *ctx, struct tnl_pipeline_stage *stage )
        */
       m->File[FILE_LOCAL_PARAM] = program->Base.LocalParams;
       m->File[FILE_ENV_PARAM] = ctx->VertexProgram.Parameters;
-      m->File[FILE_STATE_PARAM] = program->Parameters->ParameterValues;
+      /* GL_NV_vertex_programs can't reference GL state */
+      if (program->Parameters)
+         m->File[FILE_STATE_PARAM] = program->Parameters->ParameterValues;
+      else
+         m->File[FILE_STATE_PARAM] = NULL;
    }
 }