diff --git a/src/scanner.c b/src/scanner.c
index f782397..560b8c5 100644
--- a/src/scanner.c
+++ b/src/scanner.c
@@ -509,6 +509,9 @@ unsigned tree_sitter_kotlin_external_scanner_serialize(void *payload, char *buff
 void tree_sitter_kotlin_external_scanner_deserialize(void *payload, const char *buffer, unsigned length) {
   Stack *stack = (Stack *)payload;
   if (length > 0) {
+    if (!stack->contents) {
+      stack->contents = malloc(length);
+    }
     memcpy(stack->contents, buffer, length);
     stack->size = length;
   } else {