diff --git a/init/subcontext.cpp b/init/subcontext.cpp
index bb3967e09..bd2bec5cf 100644
--- a/init/subcontext.cpp
+++ b/init/subcontext.cpp
@@ -381,6 +381,9 @@ bool SubcontextChildReap(pid_t pid) {
 }
 
 void SubcontextTerminate() {
+    if (!subcontext) {
+        return;
+    }
     subcontext_terminated_by_shutdown = true;
     kill(subcontext->pid(), SIGTERM);
 }