diff --git a/changelog.txt b/changelog.txt
index 71e2a281f..b0ca7040d 100644
--- a/changelog.txt
+++ b/changelog.txt
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ Template for new versions:
 ## New Features
 
 ## Fixes
+- ``embark-anyone``: validate viewscreen before using, avoids a crash
 
 ## Misc Improvements
 
diff --git a/embark-anyone.lua b/embark-anyone.lua
index 10772e46e..8239cd332 100644
--- a/embark-anyone.lua
+++ b/embark-anyone.lua
@@ -1,27 +1,28 @@
 local dialogs = require('gui.dialogs')
 local utils = require('utils')
 
-function addCivToEmbarkList(info)
-   local viewscreen = dfhack.gui.getDFViewscreen(true)
+function embarkAnyone()
 
-   viewscreen.start_civ:insert ('#', info.civ)
-   viewscreen.start_civ_nem_num:insert ('#', info.nemeses)
-   viewscreen.start_civ_entpop_num:insert ('#', info.pops)
-   viewscreen.start_civ_site_num:insert ('#', info.sites)
-end
+   function addCivToEmbarkList(info)
+      local viewscreen = dfhack.gui.getDFViewscreen(true)
+
+      viewscreen.start_civ:insert ('#', info.civ)
+      viewscreen.start_civ_nem_num:insert ('#', info.nemeses)
+      viewscreen.start_civ_entpop_num:insert ('#', info.pops)
+      viewscreen.start_civ_site_num:insert ('#', info.sites)
+   end
 
-function embarkAnyone()
    local viewscreen = dfhack.gui.getDFViewscreen(true)
+   if viewscreen._type ~= df.viewscreen_choose_start_sitest then
+      qerror("This script can only be used on the embark screen!")
+   end
+
    local choices, existing_civs = {}, {}
 
    for _,existing_civ in ipairs(viewscreen.start_civ) do
       existing_civs[existing_civ.id] = true
    end
 
-   if viewscreen._type ~= df.viewscreen_choose_start_sitest then
-      qerror("This script can only be used on the embark screen!")
-   end
-
    for i, civ in ipairs (df.global.world.entities.all) do
       -- Test if entity is a civ
       if civ.type ~= df.historical_entity_type.Civilization then goto continue end