diff --git a/src/backends/meta-monitor-config-manager.c b/src/backends/meta-monitor-config-manager.c
index 1ef92c2d4..fc7a8dd54 100644
--- a/src/backends/meta-monitor-config-manager.c
+++ b/src/backends/meta-monitor-config-manager.c
@@ -1388,7 +1388,8 @@ meta_monitor_config_manager_class_init (MetaMonitorConfigManagerClass *klass)
 void
 meta_monitor_config_free (MetaMonitorConfig *monitor_config)
 {
-  meta_monitor_spec_free (monitor_config->monitor_spec);
+  if (monitor_config->monitor_spec)
+    meta_monitor_spec_free (monitor_config->monitor_spec);
   g_free (monitor_config->mode_spec);
   g_free (monitor_config);
 }