diff --git a/src/main.cpp b/src/main.cpp
index f9f03b0..acf8b85 100644
--- a/src/main.cpp
+++ b/src/main.cpp
@@ -155,9 +155,14 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
     std::cout << "Rotation Time: " << rotationSeconds << std::endl;
     std::cout << "Overlay input: " << overlay << std::endl;
   }
+
   Overlay o(overlay);
   o.setDebugMode(debugMode);
-  w.setOverlay(&o);
+  if (!overlay.empty())
+  {
+    w.setOverlay(&o);
+  }
+
   w.setAspect(aspect);
   w.setDebugMode(debugMode);
   w.setFitAspectAxisToWindow(fitAspectAxisToWindow);
diff --git a/src/mainwindow.h b/src/mainwindow.h
index bcd4225..5518be6 100644
--- a/src/mainwindow.h
+++ b/src/mainwindow.h
@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@ private:
     bool fitAspectAxisToWindow = false;
     QString overlayHexRGB;
 
-    Overlay* overlay;
+    Overlay* overlay = NULL;
 
     void drawText(QPixmap& image, int margin, int fontsize, QString text, int alignment);