diff --git a/src/conf/domain_conf.c b/src/conf/domain_conf.c
index 16e0736e09..db1a0ffd57 100644
--- a/src/conf/domain_conf.c
+++ b/src/conf/domain_conf.c
@@ -1542,7 +1542,7 @@ virDomainDefGetVcpuPinInfoHelper(virDomainDefPtr def,
         virDomainVcpuDefPtr vcpu = virDomainDefGetVcpu(def, i);
         virBitmapPtr bitmap = NULL;
 
-        if (vcpu->cpumask)
+        if (vcpu && vcpu->cpumask)
             bitmap = vcpu->cpumask;
         else if (def->placement_mode == VIR_DOMAIN_CPU_PLACEMENT_MODE_AUTO &&
                  autoCpuset)