diff --git a/src/network/networkd-queue.c b/src/network/networkd-queue.c
index 3480f5c890..5ef4acf5ac 100644
--- a/src/network/networkd-queue.c
+++ b/src/network/networkd-queue.c
@@ -78,6 +78,9 @@ static Request *request_free(Request *req) {
 DEFINE_TRIVIAL_CLEANUP_FUNC(Request*, request_free);
 
 void request_drop(Request *req) {
+        if (!req)
+                return;
+
         if (req->message_counter)
                 (*req->message_counter)--;