diff --git a/src/qemu/qemu_hotplug.c b/src/qemu/qemu_hotplug.c
index e7863328db..a66354426d 100644
--- a/src/qemu/qemu_hotplug.c
+++ b/src/qemu/qemu_hotplug.c
@@ -3900,10 +3900,10 @@ qemuDomainChangeNet(virQEMUDriverPtr driver,
 
         /* If the old bandwidth was cleared out, restore qdisc. */
         if (virDomainNetTypeSharesHostView(newdev)) {
-            if (!newb->out || newb->out->average == 0)
+            if (!newb || !newb->out || newb->out->average == 0)
                 qemuDomainInterfaceSetDefaultQDisc(driver, newdev);
         } else {
-            if (!newb->in || newb->in->average == 0)
+            if (!newb || !newb->in || newb->in->average == 0)
                 qemuDomainInterfaceSetDefaultQDisc(driver, newdev);
         }
         needReplaceDevDef = true;