diff --git a/drivers/gpu/drm/xe/xe_pt.c b/drivers/gpu/drm/xe/xe_pt.c
index 18a98667c0e6..234ea175c5e3 100644
--- a/drivers/gpu/drm/xe/xe_pt.c
+++ b/drivers/gpu/drm/xe/xe_pt.c
@@ -885,12 +885,20 @@ static int xe_pt_zap_ptes_entry(struct xe_ptw *parent, pgoff_t offset,
 {
 	struct xe_pt_zap_ptes_walk *xe_walk =
 		container_of(walk, typeof(*xe_walk), base);
-	struct xe_pt *xe_child = container_of(*child, typeof(*xe_child), base);
+	struct xe_pt *xe_child;
 	pgoff_t end_offset;
 
-	XE_WARN_ON(!*child);
 	XE_WARN_ON(!level);
 
+	/*
+	 * Below would be unexpected behavior that needs to be root caused
+	 * but better warn and bail than crash the driver.
+	 */
+	if (XE_WARN_ON(!*child))
+		return 0;
+
+	xe_child = container_of(*child, typeof(*xe_child), base);
+
 	/*
 	 * Note that we're called from an entry callback, and we're dealing
 	 * with the child of that entry rather than the parent, so need to