diff --git a/src/lottie/lottieparser.cpp b/src/lottie/lottieparser.cpp
index 91fea5e68d..c5d766451f 100644
--- a/src/lottie/lottieparser.cpp
+++ b/src/lottie/lottieparser.cpp
@@ -598,7 +598,7 @@ void LottieParserImpl::parseComposition()
         }
     }
 
-    if (comp->mVersion.empty()) {
+    if (comp->mVersion.empty() || !comp->mRootLayer) {
         // don't have a valid bodymovin header
         return;
     }