diff --git a/pkg/encoders/tag/tags.go b/pkg/encoders/tag/tags.go
index bb302f6..a246321 100644
--- a/pkg/encoders/tag/tags.go
+++ b/pkg/encoders/tag/tags.go
@@ -47,6 +47,9 @@ func (s *S) Append(t ...*T) {
 // ContainsAny returns true if any of the values given in `values` matches any
 // of the tag elements.
 func (s *S) ContainsAny(tagName []byte, values [][]byte) bool {
+	if s == nil {
+		return false
+	}
 	if len(tagName) < 1 {
 		return false
 	}