diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/cavium/thunder/nic_main.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/cavium/thunder/nic_main.c
index 6677b96e1f3f..da142f6bd0c3 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/cavium/thunder/nic_main.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/cavium/thunder/nic_main.c
@@ -1371,6 +1371,9 @@ static void nic_remove(struct pci_dev *pdev)
 {
 	struct nicpf *nic = pci_get_drvdata(pdev);
 
+	if (!nic)
+		return;
+
 	if (nic->flags & NIC_SRIOV_ENABLED)
 		pci_disable_sriov(pdev);