diff --git a/ctree.c b/ctree.c
index bd6cb125..589efa3d 100644
--- a/ctree.c
+++ b/ctree.c
@@ -48,6 +48,8 @@ struct btrfs_path *btrfs_alloc_path(void)
 
 void btrfs_free_path(struct btrfs_path *p)
 {
+	if (!p)
+		return;
 	btrfs_release_path(p);
 	kfree(p);
 }