diff --git a/src/session_client.c b/src/session_client.c
index f5a9593..2236dd7 100644
--- a/src/session_client.c
+++ b/src/session_client.c
@@ -774,6 +774,14 @@
 
         case NC_RPC_GETCONFIG:
         case NC_RPC_GET:
+            if (!xml->child->child) {
+                /* we did not receive any data */
+                data_rpl = malloc(sizeof *data_rpl);
+                data_rpl->type = NC_RPL_DATA;
+                data_rpl->data = NULL;
+                return (struct nc_reply *)data_rpl;
+            }
+
             /* special treatment */
             data = lyd_parse_xml(ctx, &xml->child->child, LYD_OPT_DESTRUCT
                                  | (rpc->type == NC_RPC_GETCONFIG ? LYD_OPT_GETCONFIG : LYD_OPT_GET) | parseroptions);