diff --git a/system-settings/plugins/ifcfg-rh/reader.c b/system-settings/plugins/ifcfg-rh/reader.c
index 4d65915274..0fedcbe5df 100644
--- a/system-settings/plugins/ifcfg-rh/reader.c
+++ b/system-settings/plugins/ifcfg-rh/reader.c
@@ -143,6 +143,7 @@ get_one_ip4_addr (shvarFile *ifcfg,
 	g_return_if_fail (ifcfg != NULL);
 	g_return_if_fail (tag != NULL);
 	g_return_if_fail (out_addr != NULL);
+	g_return_if_fail (*out_addr == 0);
 	g_return_if_fail (error != NULL);
 	g_return_if_fail (*error == NULL);