diff --git a/src/lib/eo/eo.c b/src/lib/eo/eo.c
index dfb23e2934..4e6b0912e9 100644
--- a/src/lib/eo/eo.c
+++ b/src/lib/eo/eo.c
@@ -1001,7 +1001,7 @@ _efl_add_end(Eo *eo_id, Eina_Bool is_ref, Eina_Bool is_fallback)
    Eo *ret = efl_finalize(eo_id);
    ret = _efl_add_internal_end(eo_id, ret);
 
-   if (is_ref)
+   if (ret && is_ref)
      {
         if (efl_parent_get(eo_id))
           {