diff --git a/src/util/virstring.c b/src/util/virstring.c
index 1f4850edfd..d11db5cbcc 100644
--- a/src/util/virstring.c
+++ b/src/util/virstring.c
@@ -172,6 +172,9 @@ virStringArrayHasString(char **strings, const char *needle)
 {
     size_t i = 0;
 
+    if (!strings)
+        return false;
+
     while (strings[i]) {
         if (STREQ(strings[i++], needle))
             return true;