diff --git a/src/raudio.c b/src/raudio.c
index 660d438d5..62229a32a 100644
--- a/src/raudio.c
+++ b/src/raudio.c
@@ -766,7 +766,11 @@ Sound LoadSoundFromWave(Wave wave)
         if (frameCount == 0) TRACELOG(LOG_WARNING, "SOUND: Failed to get frame count for format conversion");
 
         AudioBuffer *audioBuffer = LoadAudioBuffer(AUDIO_DEVICE_FORMAT, AUDIO_DEVICE_CHANNELS, AUDIO_DEVICE_SAMPLE_RATE, frameCount, AUDIO_BUFFER_USAGE_STATIC);
-        if (audioBuffer == NULL) TRACELOG(LOG_WARNING, "SOUND: Failed to create buffer");
+        if (audioBuffer == NULL)
+        {
+            TRACELOG(LOG_WARNING, "SOUND: Failed to create buffer");
+            return sound; // early return to avoid dereferencing the audioBuffer null pointer
+        }
 
         frameCount = (ma_uint32)ma_convert_frames(audioBuffer->data, frameCount, AUDIO_DEVICE_FORMAT, AUDIO_DEVICE_CHANNELS, AUDIO_DEVICE_SAMPLE_RATE, wave.data, frameCountIn, formatIn, wave.channels, wave.sampleRate);
         if (frameCount == 0) TRACELOG(LOG_WARNING, "SOUND: Failed format conversion");