diff --git a/src/cluster.c b/src/cluster.c
index e88eb8c3..be709322 100644
--- a/src/cluster.c
+++ b/src/cluster.c
@@ -1691,6 +1691,7 @@ void clusterSendUpdate(clusterLink *link, clusterNode *node) {
     unsigned char buf[sizeof(clusterMsg)];
     clusterMsg *hdr = (clusterMsg*) buf;
 
+    if (link == NULL) return;
     clusterBuildMessageHdr(hdr,CLUSTERMSG_TYPE_UPDATE);
     memcpy(hdr->data.update.nodecfg.nodename,node->name,REDIS_CLUSTER_NAMELEN);
     hdr->data.update.nodecfg.configEpoch = htonu64(node->configEpoch);