diff --git a/hw/9pfs/9p.c b/hw/9pfs/9p.c
index 97c2926aae50bd61c31b74074618c76d0b02025c..fa58877570f6d38b446805b62eb2f27f33a18cbf 100644
--- a/hw/9pfs/9p.c
+++ b/hw/9pfs/9p.c
@@ -3525,7 +3525,7 @@ int v9fs_device_realize_common(V9fsState *s, Error **errp)
     rc = 0;
 out:
     if (rc) {
-        if (s->ops->cleanup && s->ctx.private) {
+        if (s->ops && s->ops->cleanup && s->ctx.private) {
             s->ops->cleanup(&s->ctx);
         }
         g_free(s->tag);