diff --git a/hw/acpi/pcihp.c b/hw/acpi/pcihp.c
index 30405b5113..a5e182dd3a 100644
--- a/hw/acpi/pcihp.c
+++ b/hw/acpi/pcihp.c
@@ -491,6 +491,9 @@ static void pci_write(void *opaque, hwaddr addr, uint64_t data,
         }
 
         bus = acpi_pcihp_find_hotplug_bus(s, s->hotplug_select);
+        if (!bus) {
+            break;
+        }
         QTAILQ_FOREACH_SAFE(kid, &bus->qbus.children, sibling, next) {
             Object *o = OBJECT(kid->child);
             PCIDevice *dev = PCI_DEVICE(o);