diff --git a/Lib/java/typemaps.i b/Lib/java/typemaps.i
index 1785d97ce..fd7c267a1 100644
--- a/Lib/java/typemaps.i
+++ b/Lib/java/typemaps.i
@@ -227,7 +227,7 @@ There are no char *OUTPUT typemaps, however you can apply the signed char * type
 {
   JNITYPE $1_jvalue;
   JCALL4(Get##JAVATYPE##ArrayRegion, jenv, $input, 0, 1, &$1_jvalue);
-  *$result = ($*1_ltype)$1_jvalue;
+  if ($result) *$result = ($*1_ltype)$1_jvalue;
 }
 
 %typemap(typecheck) TYPE *OUTPUT = TYPECHECKTYPE;