diff --git a/fuzz/qpdf_extra/16301.fuzz b/fuzz/qpdf_extra/16301.fuzz
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..a9a066bb
--- /dev/null
+++ b/fuzz/qpdf_extra/16301.fuzz
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+   1 0 obj << /AcroForm<<    /Fields   ÿ  /NeedAppearances true>>   /Pages 16 0 R   >>
+endobj   
+15 0 obj <<   /Annots [    <<   ÿ /FT/Ch/Subtype /Widget   >>
+endobj
+16 0 obj <<ÿÿÿÿ/Kids[15 0 R]  >>
+endobj   
+trailer <<    /Root 1 0 R   >>  ]>>  ÿ ÿ
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/libqpdf/QPDFObjectHandle.cc b/libqpdf/QPDFObjectHandle.cc
index 04149b22..a6d07190 100644
--- a/libqpdf/QPDFObjectHandle.cc
+++ b/libqpdf/QPDFObjectHandle.cc
@@ -2310,6 +2310,11 @@ QPDFObjectHandle::newStream(QPDF* qpdf, int objid, int generation,
 QPDFObjectHandle
 QPDFObjectHandle::newStream(QPDF* qpdf)
 {
+    if (qpdf == 0)
+    {
+        throw std::runtime_error(
+            "attempt to create stream in null qpdf object");
+    }
     QTC::TC("qpdf", "QPDFObjectHandle newStream");
     QPDFObjectHandle stream_dict = newDictionary();
     QPDFObjectHandle result = qpdf->makeIndirectObject(