diff --git a/src/qemu/qemu_driver.c b/src/qemu/qemu_driver.c
index 78b8a826074a778f91142e0a0756dd736388e4fc..7ff60ecfe6ed0054689152d3d652e4a688ee33d4 100644
--- a/src/qemu/qemu_driver.c
+++ b/src/qemu/qemu_driver.c
@@ -1004,9 +1004,11 @@ qemuStateStop(void)
             ret = -1;
 
  cleanup:
-    for (i = 0; i < numDomains; i++)
-        virDomainFree(domains[i]);
-    VIR_FREE(domains);
+    if (domains) {
+        for (i = 0; i < numDomains; i++)
+            virDomainFree(domains[i]);
+        VIR_FREE(domains);
+    }
     VIR_FREE(flags);
     virObjectUnref(conn);
     virObjectUnref(cfg);