Raycast NullReferenceException

So I've got a raycast that turns an enemy to ice:

Code (CSharp):

1. void Start(){
2.         iceLayer = LayerMask.NameToLayer ("Ice");
3.     }
4.  
5.     private RaycastHit2D CheckRaycast(Vector2 direction){
6.         float directonOriginOfsfset = originOffset * (direction.x > 0 ? 1 : -1);
7.         Vector2 startingPosition = new Vector2 (transform.position.x + directonOriginOfsfset, transform.position.y);
8.         Debug.DrawRay(startingPosition, direction, Color.red);
9.         return Physics2D.Raycast(startingPosition, direction, raycastMaxDistance, 1<< iceLayer);
10.         }
11.     private bool RaycastCheckUpdate(){
12.         if(iceGazeCombo.Check() && !GetComponent<playerDoubleJump>().Jumping && !GetComponent<playerSlide>().Sliding){
13.             Vector2 direction = new Vector2 (1, 0);
14.             if (GetComponent<playerMovement>().FacingRight == false){
15.                 direction *= -1;
16.             }
17.  
18.             RaycastHit2D hit = CheckRaycast(direction);
19.             if (hit.collider.tag == "Enemy")
20.             if (hit.collider.gameObject.GetComponent<turnIce> ())
21.                 hit.collider.gameObject.GetComponent<turnIce> ().elapsed = 0;
22.             if (!hit.collider.gameObject.GetComponent<turnIce> ().ice)
23.                 hit.collider.gameObject.GetComponent<turnIce> ().turnToIce();
24.             return true;
25.         }
26.         else{
27.             return false;
28.         }
29.     }
30.     private void FixedUpdate(){
31.         RaycastCheckUpdate ();
32.     }

Works great when I aim at the enemy that can be turned to ice.. Problem is when I don't hit an enemy it gives a NullReferenceException.. Any ideas on why this keep throwing out errors?

 

Just test the returned hit for null before doing any other tests on it.

 

Thank you for the reply. I was coming back to update this post because I did just that and everything is working.
Thank you again!