diff --git a/include/kvm/virtio.h b/include/kvm/virtio.h
index 9f892a1..7903a74 100644
--- a/include/kvm/virtio.h
+++ b/include/kvm/virtio.h
@@ -28,6 +28,8 @@ static inline struct vring_desc *virt_queue__get_desc(struct virt_queue *queue,
 
 static inline bool virt_queue__available(struct virt_queue *vq)
 {
+	if (!vq->vring.avail)
+		return 0;
 	return vq->vring.avail->idx !=  vq->last_avail_idx;
 }