diff --git a/vl.c b/vl.c
index 40b1d8bf49..7034209ca9 100644
--- a/vl.c
+++ b/vl.c
@@ -915,7 +915,7 @@ struct qemu_alarm_timer {
 
 static inline int alarm_has_dynticks(struct qemu_alarm_timer *t)
 {
-    return t->flags & ALARM_FLAG_DYNTICKS;
+    return t && (t->flags & ALARM_FLAG_DYNTICKS);
 }
 
 static void qemu_rearm_alarm_timer(struct qemu_alarm_timer *t)
@@ -1349,7 +1349,7 @@ static void host_alarm_handler(int host_signum)
         qemu_timer_expired(active_timers[QEMU_TIMER_REALTIME],
                            qemu_get_clock(rt_clock))) {
         qemu_event_increment();
-        alarm_timer->flags |= ALARM_FLAG_EXPIRED;
+        if (alarm_timer) alarm_timer->flags |= ALARM_FLAG_EXPIRED;
 
 #ifndef CONFIG_IOTHREAD
         if (next_cpu) {