diff --git a/modules/juce_audio_processors/format_types/juce_AU_Shared.h b/modules/juce_audio_processors/format_types/juce_AU_Shared.h
index fc4406b9f8..aad9a4f407 100644
--- a/modules/juce_audio_processors/format_types/juce_AU_Shared.h
+++ b/modules/juce_audio_processors/format_types/juce_AU_Shared.h
@@ -162,7 +162,9 @@ struct AudioUnitHelpers
                 jassert (channels[(size_t) i] != nullptr);
            #endif
 
-            mutableBuffer.setDataToReferTo (channels.data(), (int) channels.size(), static_cast<int> (frames));
+            if (! channels.empty())
+                mutableBuffer.setDataToReferTo (channels.data(), (int) channels.size(), static_cast<int> (frames));
+
             return mutableBuffer;
         }