diff --git a/src/common/compat_libevent.c b/src/common/compat_libevent.c
index b5e9cc9332..735385557c 100644
--- a/src/common/compat_libevent.c
+++ b/src/common/compat_libevent.c
@@ -243,7 +243,8 @@ tor_init_libevent_rng(void)
 void
 tor_libevent_free_all(void)
 {
-  event_base_free(the_event_base);
+  if (the_event_base)
+    event_base_free(the_event_base);
   the_event_base = NULL;
 }