diff --git a/hw/vfio/pci.c b/hw/vfio/pci.c
index 2d40b396f2..337a173ce7 100644
--- a/hw/vfio/pci.c
+++ b/hw/vfio/pci.c
@@ -3076,7 +3076,9 @@ static void vfio_exitfn(PCIDevice *pdev)
     vfio_unregister_req_notifier(vdev);
     vfio_unregister_err_notifier(vdev);
     pci_device_set_intx_routing_notifier(&vdev->pdev, NULL);
-    kvm_irqchip_remove_change_notifier(&vdev->irqchip_change_notifier);
+    if (vdev->irqchip_change_notifier.notify) {
+        kvm_irqchip_remove_change_notifier(&vdev->irqchip_change_notifier);
+    }
     vfio_disable_interrupts(vdev);
     if (vdev->intx.mmap_timer) {
         timer_free(vdev->intx.mmap_timer);