diff --git a/src/network/networkd-manager.c b/src/network/networkd-manager.c
index 54e83e3dd5a..c1ad69bf514 100644
--- a/src/network/networkd-manager.c
+++ b/src/network/networkd-manager.c
@@ -98,6 +98,9 @@ void manager_free(Manager *m) {
         NetDev *netdev;
         Link *link;
 
+        if (!m)
+                return;
+
         udev_monitor_unref(m->udev_monitor);
         udev_unref(m->udev);
         sd_bus_unref(m->bus);