diff --git a/universal.c b/universal.c
index 119117e818a4..0b12a231b56e 100644
--- a/universal.c
+++ b/universal.c
@@ -593,10 +593,13 @@ XS(XS_utf8_upgrade)
         croak_xs_usage(cv, "sv");
     else {
         SV * const sv = ST(0);
-        STRLEN	RETVAL;
+        STRLEN	RETVAL = 0;
         dXSTARG;
 
-        RETVAL = sv_utf8_upgrade(sv);
+        if (LIKELY(sv && SvANY(sv))) {
+            RETVAL = sv_utf8_upgrade(sv);
+        }
+
         XSprePUSH; PUSHi((IV)RETVAL);
     }
     XSRETURN(1);