diff --git a/net/socket.c b/net/socket.c
index 83a2a31025..6917fbcbf5 100644
--- a/net/socket.c
+++ b/net/socket.c
@@ -373,7 +373,7 @@ static NetSocketState *net_socket_fd_init_dgram(NetClientState *peer,
     net_socket_read_poll(s, true);
 
     /* mcast: save bound address as dst */
-    if (is_connected) {
+    if (is_connected && mcast != NULL) {
         s->dgram_dst = saddr;
         snprintf(nc->info_str, sizeof(nc->info_str),
                  "socket: fd=%d (cloned mcast=%s:%d)",