That example doesn't mean references in C++ can be null any more than the following example means that Rust references can be null: fn function_with_refere

That example doesn't mean references in C++ can be null any more than the following example means that Rust references can be null: fn function_with_reference(reference: &i64) -> i64 { reference.clone() } pub fn main() { unsafe { let x = 0 as *mut i64; function_with_reference(&*x); } } This also compiles, runs, and segfaults. And it doesn't mean that references in Rust can be null - they can't. Your problem is with undefined behaviour or perhaps raw pointers, but not references. The reference itself isn't what's messing this up!