diff --git a/mods/HUD/hudbars/init.lua b/mods/HUD/hudbars/init.lua
index 7f86a959d..543692d51 100644
--- a/mods/HUD/hudbars/init.lua
+++ b/mods/HUD/hudbars/init.lua
@@ -330,9 +330,16 @@ function hb.change_hudbar(player, identifier, new_value, new_max_value, new_icon
 
 	local name = player:get_player_name()
 	local hudtable = hb.get_hudtable(identifier)
+
+	-- hb.change_hudbar may be called with a non-existing hudbar like hunger.
+	if hudtable == nil then
+		return false
+	end
+
 	if not hudtable.hudstate[name] then
 		return false
 	end
+
 	local value_changed, max_changed = false, false
 
 	if new_value then