diff --git a/qga/main.c b/qga/main.c
index f0e454f28d..3febf3b0fd 100644
--- a/qga/main.c
+++ b/qga/main.c
@@ -531,7 +531,11 @@ static int send_response(GAState *s, const QDict *rsp)
     QString *payload_qstr, *response_qstr;
     GIOStatus status;
 
-    g_assert(rsp && s->channel);
+    g_assert(s->channel);
+
+    if (!rsp) {
+        return 0;
+    }
 
     payload_qstr = qobject_to_json(QOBJECT(rsp));
     if (!payload_qstr) {