diff --git a/libs/libvpx/vp8/encoder/pickinter.c b/libs/libvpx/vp8/encoder/pickinter.c
index dc72eed88c..6f8a173582 100644
--- a/libs/libvpx/vp8/encoder/pickinter.c
+++ b/libs/libvpx/vp8/encoder/pickinter.c
@@ -631,16 +631,16 @@ void vp8_pick_inter_mode(VP8_COMP *cpi, MACROBLOCK *x, int recon_yoffset,
     }
 #endif
     assert(plane[LAST_FRAME][0] != NULL);
-    dot_artifact_candidate = check_dot_artifact_candidate(
+    if (plane[LAST_FRAME][0]) dot_artifact_candidate = check_dot_artifact_candidate(
         cpi, x, target_y, stride, plane[LAST_FRAME][0], mb_row, mb_col, 0);
     // If not found in Y channel, check UV channel.
     if (!dot_artifact_candidate) {
       assert(plane[LAST_FRAME][1] != NULL);
-      dot_artifact_candidate = check_dot_artifact_candidate(
+      if (plane[LAST_FRAME][1]) dot_artifact_candidate = check_dot_artifact_candidate(
           cpi, x, target_u, stride_uv, plane[LAST_FRAME][1], mb_row, mb_col, 1);
       if (!dot_artifact_candidate) {
         assert(plane[LAST_FRAME][2] != NULL);
-        dot_artifact_candidate = check_dot_artifact_candidate(
+        if (plane[LAST_FRAME][2]) dot_artifact_candidate = check_dot_artifact_candidate(
             cpi, x, target_v, stride_uv, plane[LAST_FRAME][2], mb_row, mb_col,
             2);
       }