diff --git a/src/remote/remote_driver.c b/src/remote/remote_driver.c
index c078cb54e6..65fcc5b9fa 100644
--- a/src/remote/remote_driver.c
+++ b/src/remote/remote_driver.c
@@ -3738,7 +3738,8 @@ static int remoteAuthFillFromConfig(virConnectPtr conn,
             break;
         }
 
-        if (virAuthConfigLookup(state->config,
+        if (credname &&
+            virAuthConfigLookup(state->config,
                                 "libvirt",
                                 VIR_URI_SERVER(conn->uri),
                                 credname,