diff --git a/src/lxc_controller.c b/src/lxc_controller.c
index 8d11238a0e..a0db602a8c 100644
--- a/src/lxc_controller.c
+++ b/src/lxc_controller.c
@@ -803,7 +803,8 @@ cleanup:
     if (def)
         virFileDeletePid(LXC_STATE_DIR, def->name);
     lxcControllerCleanupInterfaces(nveths, veths);
-    unlink(sockpath);
+    if (sockpath)
+        unlink(sockpath);
     VIR_FREE(sockpath);
 
     return rc;