diff --git a/src/or/rendservice.c b/src/or/rendservice.c
index b42679f1f7..0e15906899 100644
--- a/src/or/rendservice.c
+++ b/src/or/rendservice.c
@@ -720,7 +720,7 @@ int rend_services_init(void) {
 
     /* If there's no need to republish, stop here. */
     now = time(NULL);
-    if (!changed &&
+    if (!changed && service->desc &&
         service->desc->timestamp+MAX_SERVICE_PUBLICATION_INTERVAL >= now)
       continue;