diff --git a/net/9p/trans_virtio.c b/net/9p/trans_virtio.c
index 3c27ffb781e3..2c9495ccda6b 100644
--- a/net/9p/trans_virtio.c
+++ b/net/9p/trans_virtio.c
@@ -384,7 +384,7 @@ static void handle_rerror(struct p9_req_t *req, int in_hdr_len,
 	void *to = req->rc.sdata + in_hdr_len;
 
 	// Fits entirely into the static data?  Nothing to do.
-	if (req->rc.size < in_hdr_len)
+	if (req->rc.size < in_hdr_len || !pages)
 		return;
 
 	// Really long error message?  Tough, truncate the reply.  Might get