diff --git a/src/libs/qmldebug/qmldebugclient.cpp b/src/libs/qmldebug/qmldebugclient.cpp
index d0f4782eb2d413cb74f4dd96dd20380149bd90b4..2f5b7976cd70a294b2bf79e2ec71b38e49810963 100644
--- a/src/libs/qmldebug/qmldebugclient.cpp
+++ b/src/libs/qmldebug/qmldebugclient.cpp
@@ -191,7 +191,7 @@ void QmlDebugConnectionPrivate::readyRead()
         emit q->opened();
     }
 
-    while (protocol->packetsAvailable()) {
+    while (protocol && protocol->packetsAvailable()) {
         QPacket pack = protocol->read();
         QString name;
         pack >> name;