diff --git a/engine/render/r_main.cpp b/engine/render/r_main.cpp
index 1d46715..256b195 100644
--- a/engine/render/r_main.cpp
+++ b/engine/render/r_main.cpp
@@ -1151,7 +1151,7 @@ void r_renderer_c::PumpShaders()
 {
 	texMan->ProcessPendingTextureUploads();
 	for (size_t idx = 0; idx < numShader; ++idx)
-		if (auto* sh = shaderList[idx])
+		if (auto* sh = shaderList[idx]; sh && sh->refCount > 0)
 			if (auto tex = sh->tex; tex && tex->status != r_tex_c::DONE) {
 				inhibitElision = true;
 				break;