diff --git a/src/backend.c b/src/backend.c
index 4340ba58a..eac415447 100644
--- a/src/backend.c
+++ b/src/backend.c
@@ -1343,7 +1343,8 @@ int connect_server(struct stream *s)
 	/* no reuse or failed to reuse the connection above, pick a new one */
 	if (!srv_conn) {
 		srv_conn = conn_new();
-		srv_conn->target = s->target;
+		if (srv_conn)
+			srv_conn->target = s->target;
 		srv_cs = NULL;
 	}