diff --git a/lib/roles/http/client/client-handshake.c b/lib/roles/http/client/client-handshake.c
index 8f599efc8..0b1ca96cb 100644
--- a/lib/roles/http/client/client-handshake.c
+++ b/lib/roles/http/client/client-handshake.c
@@ -145,6 +145,10 @@ lws_client_connect_4_established(struct lws *wsi, struct lws *wsi_piggyback,
 #endif
 #endif
 
+	/* coverity */
+	if (!wsi->a.protocol)
+		return NULL;
+
 #if defined(LWS_WITH_SOCKS5)
 	if (lwsi_state(wsi) != 	LRS_ESTABLISHED)
 		switch (lws_socks5c_greet(wsi, &cce)) {