diff --git a/drivers/net/ice/ice_dcf_vf_representor.c b/drivers/net/ice/ice_dcf_vf_representor.c
index 970461f3e9..b547c42f91 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ice/ice_dcf_vf_representor.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ice/ice_dcf_vf_representor.c
@@ -114,6 +114,11 @@ ice_dcf_vf_repr_hw(struct ice_dcf_vf_repr *repr)
 	struct ice_dcf_adapter *dcf_adapter =
 			repr->dcf_eth_dev->data->dev_private;
 
+	if (!dcf_adapter) {
+		PMD_DRV_LOG(ERR, "DCF for VF representor has been released\n");
+		return NULL;
+	}
+
 	return &dcf_adapter->real_hw;
 }
 
@@ -124,6 +129,9 @@ ice_dcf_vf_repr_dev_info_get(struct rte_eth_dev *dev,
 	struct ice_dcf_vf_repr *repr = dev->data->dev_private;
 	struct ice_dcf_hw *dcf_hw = ice_dcf_vf_repr_hw(repr);
 
+	if (!dcf_hw)
+		return -EIO;
+
 	dev_info->device = dev->device;
 	dev_info->max_mac_addrs = 1;
 	dev_info->max_rx_queues = dcf_hw->vsi_res->num_queue_pairs;