diff --git a/grub-core/kern/ieee1275/init.c b/grub-core/kern/ieee1275/init.c
index 62dfb8a3b..0d8ebf58b 100644
--- a/grub-core/kern/ieee1275/init.c
+++ b/grub-core/kern/ieee1275/init.c
@@ -110,6 +110,8 @@ grub_machine_get_bootlocation (char **device, char **path)
       char *ptr;
       dev = grub_ieee1275_get_aliasdevname (bootpath);
       canon = grub_ieee1275_canonicalise_devname (dev);
+      if (! canon)
+        return;
       ptr = canon + grub_strlen (canon) - 1;
       while (ptr > canon && (*ptr == ',' || *ptr == ':'))
 	ptr--;