diff --git a/Lib/fontTools/varLib/instancer/__init__.py b/Lib/fontTools/varLib/instancer/__init__.py
index cec802f3a..6dad393ea 100644
--- a/Lib/fontTools/varLib/instancer/__init__.py
+++ b/Lib/fontTools/varLib/instancer/__init__.py
@@ -1024,8 +1024,11 @@ def instantiateSTAT(varfont, axisLimits):
 
     log.info("Instantiating STAT table")
     newAxisValueTables = axisValuesFromAxisLimits(stat, axisLimits)
-    stat.AxisValueArray.AxisValue = newAxisValueTables
-    stat.AxisValueCount = len(stat.AxisValueArray.AxisValue)
+    stat.AxisValueCount = len(newAxisValueTables)
+    if stat.AxisValueCount:
+        stat.AxisValueArray.AxisValue = newAxisValueTables
+    else:
+        stat.AxisValueArray = None
 
 
 def axisValuesFromAxisLimits(stat, axisLimits):