diff --git a/hw/musicpal.c b/hw/musicpal.c
index 1c4f17cb90b0f638a4b99e8f3c62489c727258ef..c8f0235981cb7c269aafdd7c0e2c4d5cca8b2096 100644
--- a/hw/musicpal.c
+++ b/hw/musicpal.c
@@ -238,7 +238,9 @@ static void eth_send(mv88w8618_eth_state *s, int queue_index)
     uint8_t buf[2048];
     int len;
 
-
+    if (!desc_addr) {
+        return;
+    }
     do {
         eth_tx_desc_get(desc_addr, &desc);
         if (desc.cmdstat & MP_ETH_TX_OWN) {