diff --git a/lcl/dbgrids.pas b/lcl/dbgrids.pas
index d28e210d7a..d7ed91eeda 100644
--- a/lcl/dbgrids.pas
+++ b/lcl/dbgrids.pas
@@ -4520,6 +4520,8 @@ begin
   {$endif}
 
   Result := False;
+  if Item=nil then
+    Exit;
   if FCanDoBinarySearch then
     BinarySearch
   else