diff --git a/usr.sbin/bhyve/pci_ahci.c b/usr.sbin/bhyve/pci_ahci.c
--- a/usr.sbin/bhyve/pci_ahci.c
+++ b/usr.sbin/bhyve/pci_ahci.c
@@ -2440,7 +2440,7 @@
 	slots = 32;
 
 	ports_nvl = find_relative_config_node(nvl, "port");
-	for (p = 0; p < MAX_PORTS; p++) {
+	for (p = 0; ports_nvl != NULL && p < MAX_PORTS; p++) {
 		struct ata_params *ata_ident = &sc->port[p].ata_ident;
 		char ident[AHCI_PORT_IDENT];