diff --git a/src/netconf_access.cpp b/src/netconf_access.cpp
index 4cffb52..cdd9849 100644
--- a/src/netconf_access.cpp
+++ b/src/netconf_access.cpp
@@ -195,6 +195,9 @@
 
     auto instances = m_session->getConfig(NC_DATASTORE_RUNNING, list->print_mem(LYD_XML, 0));
 
+    if (!instances) {
+        return res;
+    }
 
     for (const auto& instance : instances->find_path(path.c_str())->data()) {
         ListInstance instanceRes;