diff --git a/src/util/vircommand.c b/src/util/vircommand.c
index 9a4f3d7f32..5117467c1d 100644
--- a/src/util/vircommand.c
+++ b/src/util/vircommand.c
@@ -1503,7 +1503,7 @@ virCommandAddArg(virCommandPtr cmd, const char *val)
 
     if (val == NULL) {
         cmd->has_error = EINVAL;
-        abort();
+        return;
     }
 
     arg = g_strdup(val);