diff --git a/src/swtpm/common.c b/src/swtpm/common.c
index 42d99ec18..2868dda80 100644
--- a/src/swtpm/common.c
+++ b/src/swtpm/common.c
@@ -1531,7 +1531,8 @@ static int parse_profile_options(const char *options, char **json_profile)
 error:
     if (profilefd >= 0)
         close(profilefd);
-    g_error_free(gerror);
+    if (gerror)
+        g_error_free(gerror);
     SWTPM_G_FREE(*json_profile);
     option_values_free(ovs);
     free(error);