diff --git a/headless_surface_native_test.go b/headless_surface_native_test.go
index 297e6e7..1fcff96 100644
--- a/headless_surface_native_test.go
+++ b/headless_surface_native_test.go
@@ -363,3 +363,10 @@ func TestHeadlessSurfaceReadPixelsStateErrors(t *testing.T) {
 		}
 	})
 }
+
+func TestSurfaceWritePixelsNil(t *testing.T) {
+	var surface *Surface
+	if err := surface.WritePixels(nil, 0, 0); !errors.Is(err, ErrReleased) {
+		t.Fatalf("WritePixels error = %v, want ErrReleased", err)
+	}
+}
diff --git a/surface_native.go b/surface_native.go
index 8c877a4..a251b24 100644
--- a/surface_native.go
+++ b/surface_native.go
@@ -409,7 +409,7 @@ func (s *Surface) PresentPixels(data []byte, width, height uint32, damageRects [
 // Call between GetCurrentTexture() and Present(). No render pass needed.
 // Returns ErrReleased if the surface is not configured.
 func (s *Surface) WritePixels(data []byte, width, height uint32) error {
-	if s.released || s.core == nil {
+	if s == nil || s.released || s.core == nil {
 		return ErrReleased
 	}
 	raw := s.core.RawSurface()