diff --git a/src/devices/nm-device.c b/src/devices/nm-device.c
index 0897b27e55..c062e88f81 100644
--- a/src/devices/nm-device.c
+++ b/src/devices/nm-device.c
@@ -9838,12 +9838,15 @@ nm_device_add_pending_action (NMDevice *self, const char *action, gboolean asser
 gboolean
 nm_device_remove_pending_action (NMDevice *self, const char *action, gboolean assert_is_pending)
 {
-	NMDevicePrivate *priv = NM_DEVICE_GET_PRIVATE (self);
+	NMDevicePrivate *priv;
 	GSList *iter, *next;
 	guint count = 0;
 
+	g_return_val_if_fail (self, FALSE);
 	g_return_val_if_fail (action, FALSE);
 
+	priv = NM_DEVICE_GET_PRIVATE (self);
+
 	for (iter = priv->pending_actions; iter; iter = next) {
 		next = iter->next;
 		if (!strcmp (action, iter->data)) {