diff --git a/validation/util/linux_resources_pids.go b/validation/util/linux_resources_pids.go
index 1431efd9..66a5c3d0 100644
--- a/validation/util/linux_resources_pids.go
+++ b/validation/util/linux_resources_pids.go
@@ -22,8 +22,14 @@ func ValidateLinuxResourcesPids(config *rspec.Spec, t *tap.T, state *rspec.State
 		return nil
 	}
 
-	t.Ok(lpd.Limit == config.Linux.Resources.Pids.Limit, "pids limit is set correctly")
-	t.Diagnosticf("expect: %d, actual: %d", config.Linux.Resources.Pids.Limit, lpd.Limit)
+	expected := config.Linux.Resources.Pids.Limit
+	if expected == nil || lpd.Limit == nil {
+		t.Diagnosticf("unable to get pids limit: expect: %v, actual: %v", expected, lpd.Limit)
+		return nil
+	}
+
+	t.Ok(*lpd.Limit == *expected, "pids limit is set correctly")
+	t.Diagnosticf("expect: %d, actual: %d", *expected, *lpd.Limit)
 
 	return nil
 }