diff --git a/src/rpc/virnetclient.c b/src/rpc/virnetclient.c
index 4ecc7035bc..43a9814b78 100644
--- a/src/rpc/virnetclient.c
+++ b/src/rpc/virnetclient.c
@@ -644,7 +644,8 @@ virNetClientMarkClose(virNetClientPtr client,
                       int reason)
 {
     VIR_DEBUG("client=%p, reason=%d", client, reason);
-    virNetSocketRemoveIOCallback(client->sock);
+    if (client->sock)
+        virNetSocketRemoveIOCallback(client->sock);
     client->wantClose = true;
     client->closeReason = reason;
 }