diff --git a/python/qemu/qmp.py b/python/qemu/qmp.py
index 4b9a362240790067631e586dfff7c915859f93e8..f40586eedddc8b972cd4b4ad39b8a2421e347ccf 100644
--- a/python/qemu/qmp.py
+++ b/python/qemu/qmp.py
@@ -80,7 +80,7 @@ class QEMUMonitorProtocol:
             raise QMPConnectError
         # Greeting seems ok, negotiate capabilities
         resp = self.cmd('qmp_capabilities')
-        if "return" in resp:
+        if resp and "return" in resp:
             return greeting
         raise QMPCapabilitiesError