diff --git a/net/colo.c b/net/colo.c
index 1f8162f59f..694f3c93ef 100644
--- a/net/colo.c
+++ b/net/colo.c
@@ -218,7 +218,7 @@ Connection *connection_get(GHashTable *connection_track_table,
             /*
              * clear the conn_list
              */
-            while (!g_queue_is_empty(conn_list)) {
+            while (conn_list && !g_queue_is_empty(conn_list)) {
                 connection_destroy(g_queue_pop_head(conn_list));
             }
         }