diff --git a/src/background.cpp b/src/background.cpp
index bfec8ea..7162a41 100644
--- a/src/background.cpp
+++ b/src/background.cpp
@@ -22,7 +22,10 @@ void Background::paint(Surface& s) {
 			s.width() / 2, gmenu2x.bottomBarTextY,
 			Font::HAlignCenter, Font::VAlignMiddle);
 
-	battery.getIcon().blit(s, s.width() - 19, gmenu2x.bottomBarIconY);
+	auto icon = battery.getIcon();
+	if (icon) {
+		icon->blit(s, s.width() - 19, gmenu2x.bottomBarIconY);
+	}
 }
 
 bool Background::handleButtonPress(InputManager::Button button) {
diff --git a/src/battery.cpp b/src/battery.cpp
index 404f90f..5c9b6be 100644
--- a/src/battery.cpp
+++ b/src/battery.cpp
@@ -53,7 +53,7 @@ Battery::Battery(SurfaceCollection& sc_)
 	update();
 }
 
-OffscreenSurface const& Battery::getIcon()
+const OffscreenSurface *Battery::getIcon()
 {
 	// Check battery status every 60 seconds.
 	unsigned int now = SDL_GetTicks();
@@ -62,7 +62,7 @@ OffscreenSurface const& Battery::getIcon()
 		update();
 	}
 
-	return *sc.skinRes(iconPath);
+	return sc.skinRes(iconPath);
 }
 
 void Battery::update()
diff --git a/src/battery.h b/src/battery.h
index 90d7ea0..443bb9f 100644
--- a/src/battery.h
+++ b/src/battery.h
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ public:
 	/**
 	 * Gets the icon that reflects the current battery status.
 	 */
-	OffscreenSurface const& getIcon();
+	const OffscreenSurface *getIcon();
 
 private:
 	void update();