diff --git a/plugins/autolabor.cpp b/plugins/autolabor.cpp
index d89ddd7c6..de1a1aef6 100644
--- a/plugins/autolabor.cpp
+++ b/plugins/autolabor.cpp
@@ -706,7 +706,7 @@ DFhackCExport command_result plugin_onupdate ( color_ostream &out )
 {
 	static int step_count = 0;
     // check run conditions
-    if(!world->map.block_index || !enable_autolabor)
+    if(!world || !world->map.block_index || !enable_autolabor)
     {
         // give up if we shouldn't be running'
         return CR_OK;
diff --git a/plugins/fastdwarf.cpp b/plugins/fastdwarf.cpp
index 643a097c4..5a2e2f206 100644
--- a/plugins/fastdwarf.cpp
+++ b/plugins/fastdwarf.cpp
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ static int enable_fastdwarf = false;
 DFhackCExport command_result plugin_onupdate ( color_ostream &out )
 {
     // check run conditions
-    if(!world->map.block_index || !enable_fastdwarf)
+    if(!world || !world->map.block_index || !enable_fastdwarf)
     {
         // give up if we shouldn't be running'
         return CR_OK;