diff --git a/ident.c b/ident.c
index 4fd82d1043..28bc854918 100644
--- a/ident.c
+++ b/ident.c
@@ -103,7 +103,7 @@ static int canonical_name(const char *host, struct strbuf *out)
 	memset (&hints, '\0', sizeof (hints));
 	hints.ai_flags = AI_CANONNAME;
 	if (!getaddrinfo(host, NULL, &hints, &ai)) {
-		if (ai && strchr(ai->ai_canonname, '.')) {
+		if (ai && ai->ai_canonname && strchr(ai->ai_canonname, '.')) {
 			strbuf_addstr(out, ai->ai_canonname);
 			status = 0;
 		}