diff --git a/sys/geom/virstor/g_virstor.c b/sys/geom/virstor/g_virstor.c
index a180ef287b39..40e25d15a1ec 100644
--- a/sys/geom/virstor/g_virstor.c
+++ b/sys/geom/virstor/g_virstor.c
@@ -235,6 +235,12 @@ virstor_ctl_stop(struct gctl_req *req, struct g_class *cp)
 			return;
 		}
 		sc = virstor_find_geom(cp, name);
+		if (sc == NULL) {
+			gctl_error(req, "Don't know anything about '%s'", name);
+			g_topology_unlock();
+			return;
+		}
+
 		LOG_MSG(LVL_INFO, "Stopping %s by the userland command",
 		    sc->geom->name);
 		update_metadata(sc);