diff --git a/ApplicationLibCode/ProjectDataModel/Surfaces/RimFileSurface.cpp b/ApplicationLibCode/ProjectDataModel/Surfaces/RimFileSurface.cpp
index d82e4cc451..d4e4faef74 100644
--- a/ApplicationLibCode/ProjectDataModel/Surfaces/RimFileSurface.cpp
+++ b/ApplicationLibCode/ProjectDataModel/Surfaces/RimFileSurface.cpp
@@ -120,11 +120,13 @@ void RimFileSurface::fieldChangedByUi( const caf::PdmFieldHandle* changedField,
 bool RimFileSurface::updateSurfaceData()
 {
     bool result = true;
-    if ( m_triangleMeshData->geometry().first.empty() )
+    if ( !m_triangleMeshData || m_triangleMeshData->geometry().first.empty() )
     {
         result = loadDataFromFile();
     }
 
+    if ( !m_triangleMeshData ) return false;
+
     auto [vertices, tringleIndices] = m_triangleMeshData->geometry();
 
     auto surface = new RigSurface;