diff --git a/programs/explorer/startmenu.c b/programs/explorer/startmenu.c
index 15bb7b5877c..0d79aca9a4d 100644
--- a/programs/explorer/startmenu.c
+++ b/programs/explorer/startmenu.c
@@ -464,8 +464,8 @@ void do_startmenu(HWND hwnd)
     if (!public_startmenu.folder)
         pidl_to_shellfolder(public_startmenu.pidl, NULL, &public_startmenu.folder);
 
-    if (!shell_folder_is_empty(user_startmenu.folder) ||
-        !shell_folder_is_empty(public_startmenu.folder))
+    if ((user_startmenu.folder && !shell_folder_is_empty(user_startmenu.folder)) ||
+        (public_startmenu.folder && !shell_folder_is_empty(public_startmenu.folder)))
     {
         fill_menu(&user_startmenu);