diff --git a/include/net/net.h b/include/net/net.h
index eff24519d2..1ef536d771 100644
--- a/include/net/net.h
+++ b/include/net/net.h
@@ -241,4 +241,9 @@ uint32_t net_crc32_le(const uint8_t *p, int len);
     .offset     = vmstate_offset_macaddr(_state, _field),            \
 }
 
+static inline bool net_peer_needs_padding(NetClientState *nc)
+{
+  return nc->peer && !nc->peer->do_not_pad;
+}
+
 #endif
diff --git a/net/slirp.c b/net/slirp.c
index a01a0fccd3..7a4e96db5c 100644
--- a/net/slirp.c
+++ b/net/slirp.c
@@ -119,7 +119,7 @@ static ssize_t net_slirp_send_packet(const void *pkt, size_t pkt_len,
     uint8_t min_pkt[ETH_ZLEN];
     size_t min_pktsz = sizeof(min_pkt);
 
-    if (!s->nc.peer->do_not_pad) {
+    if (net_peer_needs_padding(&s->nc)) {
         if (eth_pad_short_frame(min_pkt, &min_pktsz, pkt, pkt_len)) {
             pkt = min_pkt;
             pkt_len = min_pktsz;
diff --git a/net/tap-win32.c b/net/tap-win32.c
index 897bd18e32..6096972f5d 100644
--- a/net/tap-win32.c
+++ b/net/tap-win32.c
@@ -696,7 +696,7 @@ static void tap_win32_send(void *opaque)
     if (size > 0) {
         orig_buf = buf;
 
-        if (!s->nc.peer->do_not_pad) {
+        if (net_peer_needs_padding(&s->nc)) {
             if (eth_pad_short_frame(min_pkt, &min_pktsz, buf, size)) {
                 buf = min_pkt;
                 size = min_pktsz;
diff --git a/net/tap.c b/net/tap.c
index dd42ac6134..bae895e287 100644
--- a/net/tap.c
+++ b/net/tap.c
@@ -203,7 +203,7 @@ static void tap_send(void *opaque)
             size -= s->host_vnet_hdr_len;
         }
 
-        if (!s->nc.peer->do_not_pad) {
+        if (net_peer_needs_padding(&s->nc)) {
             if (eth_pad_short_frame(min_pkt, &min_pktsz, buf, size)) {
                 buf = min_pkt;
                 size = min_pktsz;