diff --git a/modules/c++/nitf/source/ImageReader.cpp b/modules/c++/nitf/source/ImageReader.cpp
index 5b02f8746..6d78b7ea3 100644
--- a/modules/c++/nitf/source/ImageReader.cpp
+++ b/modules/c++/nitf/source/ImageReader.cpp
@@ -51,6 +51,8 @@ nitf::BlockingInfo ImageReader::getBlockingInfo() const
 {
     nitf_BlockingInfo* blockingInfo =
             nitf_ImageReader_getBlockingInfo(getNativeOrThrow(), &error);
+    if (!blockingInfo)
+        throw nitf::NITFException(&error);
     // This creates a new object, not a reference to a field,
     // So need to tell the wrapper it needs to destruct itself
     nitf::BlockingInfo cppBlockingInfo(blockingInfo);