diff --git a/os_dep/osdep_service.c b/os_dep/osdep_service.c
index d933049..a6d36b6 100644
--- a/os_dep/osdep_service.c
+++ b/os_dep/osdep_service.c
@@ -1201,7 +1201,7 @@ void rtw_init_timer(_timer *ptimer, void *padapter, void *pfunc, void *ctx)
 	_adapter *adapter = (_adapter *)padapter;
 
 #ifdef PLATFORM_LINUX
-	_init_timer(ptimer, adapter->pnetdev, pfunc, ctx);
+	_init_timer(ptimer, adapter ? adapter->pnetdev : NULL, pfunc, ctx);
 #endif
 #ifdef PLATFORM_FREEBSD
 	_init_timer(ptimer, adapter->pifp, pfunc, ctx);