diff --git a/hw/usb/hcd-ehci.c b/hw/usb/hcd-ehci.c
index 9ca7b87a80..56ab2f457f 100644
--- a/hw/usb/hcd-ehci.c
+++ b/hw/usb/hcd-ehci.c
@@ -1838,6 +1838,9 @@ static int ehci_state_fetchqtd(EHCIQueue *q)
             ehci_set_state(q->ehci, q->async, EST_EXECUTING);
             break;
         }
+    } else if (q->dev == NULL) {
+        ehci_trace_guest_bug(q->ehci, "no device attached to queue");
+        ehci_set_state(q->ehci, q->async, EST_HORIZONTALQH);
     } else {
         p = ehci_alloc_packet(q);
         p->qtdaddr = q->qtdaddr;