diff --git a/src/common/confline.c b/src/common/confline.c
index f04b7a8757..c2122a1c68 100644
--- a/src/common/confline.c
+++ b/src/common/confline.c
@@ -300,7 +300,8 @@ config_process_include(const char *path, int recursion_level, int extended,
     tor_free(config_file);
 
     **next = included_list;
-    *next = &(*list_last)->next;
+    if (*list_last)
+      *next = &(*list_last)->next;
 
   } SMARTLIST_FOREACH_END(config_file);
   smartlist_free(config_files);