diff --git a/src/conf/domain_conf.c b/src/conf/domain_conf.c
index db1a0ffd57..1fd826dd85 100644
--- a/src/conf/domain_conf.c
+++ b/src/conf/domain_conf.c
@@ -4221,7 +4221,7 @@ virDomainDefRemoveOfflineVcpuPin(virDomainDefPtr def)
     for (i = 0; i < virDomainDefGetVcpusMax(def); i++) {
         vcpu = virDomainDefGetVcpu(def, i);
 
-        if (!vcpu->online && vcpu->cpumask) {
+        if (vcpu && !vcpu->online && vcpu->cpumask) {
             virBitmapFree(vcpu->cpumask);
             vcpu->cpumask = NULL;