diff --git a/net/filter.c b/net/filter.c
index d2a514eb8d..7cdbc6c615 100644
--- a/net/filter.c
+++ b/net/filter.c
@@ -196,7 +196,8 @@ static void netfilter_finalize(Object *obj)
         nfc->cleanup(nf);
     }
 
-    if (nf->netdev && !QTAILQ_EMPTY(&nf->netdev->filters)) {
+    if (nf->netdev && !QTAILQ_EMPTY(&nf->netdev->filters) &&
+        nf->next.tqe_prev) {
         QTAILQ_REMOVE(&nf->netdev->filters, nf, next);
     }
     g_free(nf->netdev_id);