diff --git a/src/engraving/dom/note.cpp b/src/engraving/dom/note.cpp
index f55cfc5c59aa4..8794c458e7f4d 100644
--- a/src/engraving/dom/note.cpp
+++ b/src/engraving/dom/note.cpp
@@ -1887,7 +1887,11 @@ EngravingItem* Note::drop(EditData& data)
         DirectionV stemDirection = DirectionV::AUTO;
         if (staffGroup == StaffGroup::PERCUSSION) {
             const Drumset* ds = st->part()->instrument(segment->tick())->drumset();
-            stemDirection = ds->stemDirection(n->noteVal().pitch);
+            DO_ASSERT(ds);
+
+            if (ds) {
+                stemDirection = ds->stemDirection(n->noteVal().pitch);
+            }
         }
         ch->setStemDirection(stemDirection);
 
diff --git a/src/engraving/dom/noteentry.cpp b/src/engraving/dom/noteentry.cpp
index 7fc0795bdec73..ead54c0198d31 100644
--- a/src/engraving/dom/noteentry.cpp
+++ b/src/engraving/dom/noteentry.cpp
@@ -434,7 +434,11 @@ Ret Score::putNote(const Position& p, bool replace)
     switch (staffGroup) {
     case StaffGroup::PERCUSSION: {
         const Drumset* ds = st->part()->instrument(s->tick())->drumset();
-        stemDirection     = ds->stemDirection(nval.pitch);
+        DO_ASSERT(ds);
+
+        if (ds) {
+            stemDirection = ds->stemDirection(nval.pitch);
+        }
         break;
     }
     case StaffGroup::TAB:
diff --git a/src/engraving/dom/paste.cpp b/src/engraving/dom/paste.cpp
index 704f4df59314a..0c1d8cd690b94 100644
--- a/src/engraving/dom/paste.cpp
+++ b/src/engraving/dom/paste.cpp
@@ -312,7 +312,11 @@ static Note* prepareTarget(ChordRest* target, Note* with, const Fraction& durati
     DirectionV stemDirection = DirectionV::AUTO;
     if (staffGroup == StaffGroup::PERCUSSION) {
         const Drumset* ds = staff->part()->instrument(segment->tick())->drumset();
-        stemDirection = ds->stemDirection(with->noteVal().pitch);
+        DO_ASSERT(ds);
+
+        if (ds) {
+            stemDirection = ds->stemDirection(with->noteVal().pitch);
+        }
     }
 
     segment = target->score()->setNoteRest(segment, target->track(),