diff --git a/lib_com/options.h b/lib_com/options.h
index 8ab496fe29c07a9b8a88f75f15790baa0339750c..f44ad78c495f49741c4827fa6db8df71a225738e 100644
--- a/lib_com/options.h
+++ b/lib_com/options.h
@@ -164,6 +164,7 @@
 #define NONBE_FIX_874_OMASA_BRSW_2TD                          /* Nokia: issue 874: Fixes the crashes with the long test vectors that prompted switching to TD*/
 #define NONBE_FIX_871_ACELP_CRASH_IN_OSBA                     /* FhG: isse 871: crash in ACELP core encoder with OSBA */
 #define NONBE_FIX_225_MASA_EXT_REND                           /* Nokia: Resolve #225: Complete MASA external renderer implementation */
+#define NONBE_FIX_897_USAN_WITH_MASA_RENDERING                /* Nokia: issue #897: USAN null pointer in MASA external renderer to Ambisonics */
 
 /* ##################### End NON-BE switches ########################### */
 
diff --git a/lib_rend/ivas_dirac_rend.c b/lib_rend/ivas_dirac_rend.c
index 98cd33401e0a896dbfcc1eecd425d7d2b154d6dd..9b8b9feb2d9e85db826e48a02cd36702c4da20f0 100644
--- a/lib_rend/ivas_dirac_rend.c
+++ b/lib_rend/ivas_dirac_rend.c
@@ -2141,10 +2141,13 @@ static void ivas_masa_ext_dirac_render_sf(
     DirAC_mem = hDirACRend->stack_mem;
 
     reference_power = DirAC_mem.reference_power;
+#ifdef NONBE_FIX_897_USAN_WITH_MASA_RENDERING
+    reference_power_smooth = ( DirAC_mem.reference_power == NULL ) ? NULL : DirAC_mem.reference_power + hSpatParamRendCom->num_freq_bands;
+#else
     reference_power_smooth = DirAC_mem.reference_power + hSpatParamRendCom->num_freq_bands;
+#endif
     onset_filter = DirAC_mem.onset_filter;
     onset_filter_subframe = ( DirAC_mem.onset_filter == NULL ) ? NULL : DirAC_mem.onset_filter + hSpatParamRendCom->num_freq_bands;
-
     coherence_flag = 1; /* There is always coherence assumed for ext rend of MASA */
 
     /* Construct default MASA band mapping */