diff --git a/engines/lab/resource.cpp b/engines/lab/resource.cpp
index 278222f85c9..0e8c118637d 100644
--- a/engines/lab/resource.cpp
+++ b/engines/lab/resource.cpp
@@ -158,6 +158,9 @@ bool Resource::readViews(uint16 roomNum) {
 }
 
 void Resource::freeViews(uint16 roomNum) {
+	if (!_vm->_rooms)
+		return;
+
 	for (uint16 i = 0; i < 4; i++)
 		freeView(_vm->_rooms[roomNum]._view[i]);
 
diff --git a/engines/lab/special.cpp b/engines/lab/special.cpp
index 946277b8f0b..32abde2cb04 100644
--- a/engines/lab/special.cpp
+++ b/engines/lab/special.cpp
@@ -284,6 +284,8 @@ void LabEngine::doJournal() {
 
 	delete[] _blankJournal;
 	delete[] _journalBackImage->_imageData;
+	_blankJournal = _journalBackImage->_imageData = nullptr;
+
 	_event->freeButtonList(&_journalButtonList);
 	_graphics->closeFont(&_journalFont);