diff --git a/mailnews/base/src/nsMsgFolderCompactor.cpp b/mailnews/base/src/nsMsgFolderCompactor.cpp
index c789a16d93d3..ef4bed183992 100644
--- a/mailnews/base/src/nsMsgFolderCompactor.cpp
+++ b/mailnews/base/src/nsMsgFolderCompactor.cpp
@@ -431,7 +431,8 @@ nsFolderCompactState::FinishCompact()
   // and set the summary valid again.
   if(dbFolderInfo)
     dbFolderInfo->SetExpungedBytes(0);
-  m_db->Close(PR_TRUE);
+  if (m_db)
+    m_db->Close(PR_TRUE);
   m_db = nsnull;
 
   m_folder->NotifyCompactCompleted();