diff --git a/vl.c b/vl.c
index a5808f9a02..cefe5a3968 100644
--- a/vl.c
+++ b/vl.c
@@ -1550,7 +1550,7 @@ void qemu_system_reset(ShutdownCause reason)
     } else {
         qemu_devices_reset();
     }
-    if (reason != SHUTDOWN_CAUSE_SUBSYSTEM_RESET) {
+    if (reason && reason != SHUTDOWN_CAUSE_SUBSYSTEM_RESET) {
         qapi_event_send_reset(shutdown_caused_by_guest(reason), reason);
     }
     cpu_synchronize_all_post_reset();