diff --git a/runtime/lua/vim/lsp/inlay_hint.lua b/runtime/lua/vim/lsp/inlay_hint.lua
index b27795d797..37b330f5f6 100644
--- a/runtime/lua/vim/lsp/inlay_hint.lua
+++ b/runtime/lua/vim/lsp/inlay_hint.lua
@@ -311,6 +311,10 @@ api.nvim_set_decoration_provider(namespace, {
     if bufstate.version ~= util.buf_versions[bufnr] then
       return
     end
+
+    if not bufstate.client_hints then
+      return
+    end
     local hints_by_client = assert(bufstate.client_hints)
 
     for lnum = topline, botline do