diff --git a/libparted/labels/atari.c b/libparted/labels/atari.c
index 7923487..a1c8e79 100644
--- a/libparted/labels/atari.c
+++ b/libparted/labels/atari.c
@@ -182,7 +182,7 @@ struct _AtariPart {
 typedef struct _AtariPart AtariPart;
 
 /* set by initialisation code to C locale */
-static locale_t atr_c_locale;
+static locale_t atr_c_locale = NULL;
 
 static PedDiskType atari_disk_type;
 
@@ -1966,5 +1966,6 @@ void
 ped_disk_atari_done ()
 {
 	ped_disk_type_unregister (&atari_disk_type);
-	freelocale(atr_c_locale);
+	if (atr_c_locale != NULL)
+		freelocale(atr_c_locale);
 }