diff --git a/net/9p/trans_virtio.c b/net/9p/trans_virtio.c
index 3f3eb03cda7d..6a4a29a2703d 100644
--- a/net/9p/trans_virtio.c
+++ b/net/9p/trans_virtio.c
@@ -385,7 +385,7 @@ static void handle_rerror(struct p9_req_t *req, int in_hdr_len,
 	void *to = req->rc.sdata + in_hdr_len;
 
 	// Fits entirely into the static data?  Nothing to do.
-	if (req->rc.size < in_hdr_len)
+	if (req->rc.size < in_hdr_len || !pages)
 		return;
 
 	// Really long error message?  Tough, truncate the reply.  Might get