diff --git a/tools/virt-login-shell.c b/tools/virt-login-shell.c
index 3ea7ade4be..abe7eebdf7 100644
--- a/tools/virt-login-shell.c
+++ b/tools/virt-login-shell.c
@@ -339,8 +339,9 @@ main(int argc, char **argv)
     /* At this point, the parent is now waiting for the child to exit,
      * but as that may take a long time, we release resources now.  */
 cleanup:
-    for (i = 0; i < nfdlist; i++)
-        VIR_FORCE_CLOSE(fdlist[i]);
+    if (nfdlist > 0)
+        for (i = 0; i < nfdlist; i++)
+            VIR_FORCE_CLOSE(fdlist[i]);
     VIR_FREE(fdlist);
     virConfFree(conf);
     if (dom)