diff --git a/fs/smb/client/sess.c b/fs/smb/client/sess.c
index 07726b456a0a..2fc2fbb260bf 100644
--- a/fs/smb/client/sess.c
+++ b/fs/smb/client/sess.c
@@ -76,7 +76,7 @@ cifs_ses_get_chan_index(struct cifs_ses *ses,
 	unsigned int i;
 
 	/* if the channel is waiting for termination */
-	if (server->terminate)
+	if (server && server->terminate)
 		return CIFS_INVAL_CHAN_INDEX;
 
 	for (i = 0; i < ses->chan_count; i++) {