diff --git a/drivers/char/virtio_console.c b/drivers/char/virtio_console.c
index 1e10b8b4e453..23f135f65fca 100644
--- a/drivers/char/virtio_console.c
+++ b/drivers/char/virtio_console.c
@@ -794,6 +794,10 @@ static int port_fops_open(struct inode *inode, struct file *filp)
 
 	/* We get the port with a kref here */
 	port = find_port_by_devt(cdev->dev);
+	if (!port) {
+		/* Port was unplugged before we could proceed */
+		return -ENXIO;
+	}
 	filp->private_data = port;
 
 	/*