diff --git a/src/charon/plugins/ha_sync/ha_sync_child.c b/src/charon/plugins/ha_sync/ha_sync_child.c
index 33838b82f..44d130b45 100644
--- a/src/charon/plugins/ha_sync/ha_sync_child.c
+++ b/src/charon/plugins/ha_sync/ha_sync_child.c
@@ -107,7 +107,7 @@ static bool child_keys(private_ha_sync_child_t *this, ike_sa_t *ike_sa,
 static bool child_state_change(private_ha_sync_child_t *this, ike_sa_t *ike_sa,
 							   child_sa_t *child_sa, child_sa_state_t state)
 {
-	if (ike_sa->get_state(ike_sa) == IKE_PASSIVE)
+	if (!ike_sa || ike_sa->get_state(ike_sa) == IKE_PASSIVE)
 	{	/* only sync active IKE_SAs */
 		return TRUE;
 	}