diff --git a/src/util/virtypedparam.c b/src/util/virtypedparam.c
index 3bb8b125e9..ef3b8052f6 100644
--- a/src/util/virtypedparam.c
+++ b/src/util/virtypedparam.c
@@ -68,6 +68,10 @@ virTypedParamsValidate(virTypedParameterPtr params, int nparams, ...)
     g_autofree virTypedParameterPtr sorted = NULL;
     g_autofree virTypedParameterPtr keys = NULL;
 
+    if (!nparams) {
+        return 0;
+    }
+
     va_start(ap, nparams);
 
     sorted = g_new0(virTypedParameter, nparams);