diff --git a/src/kernel/asl/core.c b/src/kernel/asl/core.c
index 53fdaec..6ba2e53 100644
--- a/src/kernel/asl/core.c
+++ b/src/kernel/asl/core.c
@@ -11,6 +11,9 @@ amduat_octets_t amduat_octets(const void *data, size_t len) {
 }
 
 bool amduat_octets_eq(amduat_octets_t a, amduat_octets_t b) {
+  if ((a.len != 0 && a.data == NULL) || (b.len != 0 && b.data == NULL)) {
+    return false;
+  }
   if (a.len != b.len) {
     return false;
   }