diff --git a/drivers/char/hvsi.c b/drivers/char/hvsi.c
index 41db8060e8f791502c51bb559ffbfa4881327e5c..54cbb58b8740ab99bd3e8fcb7a543b3701c96f8f 100644
--- a/drivers/char/hvsi.c
+++ b/drivers/char/hvsi.c
@@ -311,7 +311,8 @@ static void hvsi_recv_control(struct hvsi_struct *hp, uint8_t *packet,
 				/* CD went away; no more connection */
 				pr_debug("hvsi%i: CD dropped\n", hp->index);
 				hp->mctrl &= TIOCM_CD;
-				if (!(hp->tty->flags & CLOCAL))
+				/* If userland hasn't done an open(2) yet, hp->tty is NULL. */
+				if (hp->tty && !(hp->tty->flags & CLOCAL))
 					*to_hangup = hp->tty;
 			}
 			break;