diff --git a/Kernel/FileSystem/VirtualFileSystem.cpp b/Kernel/FileSystem/VirtualFileSystem.cpp
index f06203c2a9..646af014fe 100644
--- a/Kernel/FileSystem/VirtualFileSystem.cpp
+++ b/Kernel/FileSystem/VirtualFileSystem.cpp
@@ -498,6 +498,10 @@ KResult VFS::rename(StringView old_path, StringView new_path, Custody& base)
             return new_custody_or_error.error();
     }
 
+    if (!old_parent_custody || !new_parent_custody) {
+        return EPERM;
+    }
+
     auto& old_parent_inode = old_parent_custody->inode();
     auto& new_parent_inode = new_parent_custody->inode();