diff --git a/render/egl.c b/render/egl.c
index 2eea387b..8be8e008 100644
--- a/render/egl.c
+++ b/render/egl.c
@@ -274,7 +274,7 @@ struct wlr_egl *wlr_egl_create(EGLenum platform, void *remote_display,
 
 		if (check_egl_ext(device_exts_str, "EGL_MESA_device_software")) {
 			const char *allow_software = getenv("WLR_RENDERER_ALLOW_SOFTWARE");
-			if (strcmp(allow_software, "1") == 0) {
+			if (allow_software != NULL && strcmp(allow_software, "1") == 0) {
 				wlr_log(WLR_INFO, "Using software rendering");
 			} else {
 				wlr_log(WLR_ERROR, "Software rendering detected, please use "