diff --git a/src/state.c b/src/state.c
index 35f7d6a..9c452ae 100644
--- a/src/state.c
+++ b/src/state.c
@@ -324,6 +324,8 @@ void ResetExState(void (*PreSave)(void), void (*PostSave)(void))
 
 void AddExState(void *v, uint32 s, int type, char *desc)
 {
+   /* prevent adding a terminator to the list if a NULL pointer was provided */
+   if (v == NULL) return;
    memset(SFMDATA[SFEXINDEX].desc, 0, sizeof(SFMDATA[SFEXINDEX].desc));
    if (desc)
       strncpy(SFMDATA[SFEXINDEX].desc, desc, sizeof(SFMDATA[SFEXINDEX].desc));