diff --git a/lib/librte_vhost/virtio-net.c b/lib/librte_vhost/virtio-net.c
index 90da9bafda..d870ad97ab 100644
--- a/lib/librte_vhost/virtio-net.c
+++ b/lib/librte_vhost/virtio-net.c
@@ -293,6 +293,9 @@ vhost_destroy_device(struct vhost_device_ctx ctx)
 {
 	struct virtio_net *dev = get_device(ctx);
 
+	if (dev == NULL)
+		return;
+
 	if (dev->flags & VIRTIO_DEV_RUNNING)
 		notify_ops->destroy_device(dev);