Instance is null only in playmode?

I am making a game where an object (3d text) is instantiated every time score is added, at the position of the gameobject wich gave you the score.

My problem is that a specific prefab is bugging;
the 3d text is set in the gameobject’s prefab and the text is a prefab itself so there shouldn’t be a problem.
Plus, in step by step, everything works fine and the variable for the instance is never changed during the game.

but in normal playmode, I get this error every time even tho the gameobject had the reference the whole time.

Forget about it, it seems to have fixed itself…
I didn’t did anything nor reopened the project and it still magically fixed itself.
Thanks anyways.