diff --git a/src/network/networkd-network.c b/src/network/networkd-network.c
index 4eb553125b..bf910956cb 100644
--- a/src/network/networkd-network.c
+++ b/src/network/networkd-network.c
@@ -413,7 +413,7 @@ void network_free(Network *network) {
                 if (network->manager->networks)
                         LIST_REMOVE(networks, network->manager->networks, network);
 
-                if (network->manager->networks_by_name)
+                if (network->manager->networks_by_name && network->name)
                         hashmap_remove(network->manager->networks_by_name, network->name);
 
                 if (network->manager->duids_requesting_uuid)