diff --git a/src/qemu/qemu_blockjob.c b/src/qemu/qemu_blockjob.c
index a4662342a7..b3bdbeb990 100644
--- a/src/qemu/qemu_blockjob.c
+++ b/src/qemu/qemu_blockjob.c
@@ -216,6 +216,10 @@ qemuBlockJobEmitEvents(virQEMUDriverPtr driver,
     virObjectEventPtr event = NULL;
     virObjectEventPtr event2 = NULL;
 
+    /* don't emit events for jobs without disk */
+    if (!disk)
+        return;
+
     /* don't emit events for internal jobs and states */
     if (type >= VIR_DOMAIN_BLOCK_JOB_TYPE_LAST ||
         status >= VIR_DOMAIN_BLOCK_JOB_LAST)