diff --git a/src/regex_raw_buffer.cpp b/src/regex_raw_buffer.cpp
index 84a2fd5d..f75f0a51 100644
--- a/src/regex_raw_buffer.cpp
+++ b/src/regex_raw_buffer.cpp
@@ -46,7 +46,8 @@ void BOOST_REGEX_CALL raw_storage::resize(size_type n)
    // allocate and copy data:
    register pointer ptr = static_cast<pointer>(::operator new(newsize));
    BOOST_REGEX_NOEH_ASSERT(ptr)
-   std::memcpy(ptr, start, datasize);
+   if(start)
+      std::memcpy(ptr, start, datasize);
 
    // get rid of old buffer:
    ::operator delete(start);