diff --git a/sys/dev/raid/mfi/mfi_tbolt.c b/sys/dev/raid/mfi/mfi_tbolt.c
--- a/sys/dev/raid/mfi/mfi_tbolt.c
+++ b/sys/dev/raid/mfi/mfi_tbolt.c
@@ -782,6 +782,8 @@
 	mfi_lockassert(&sc->mfi_io_lock);
 
 	cmd = TAILQ_FIRST(&sc->mfi_cmd_tbolt_tqh);
+	if (cmd == NULL)
+		return NULL;
 	TAILQ_REMOVE(&sc->mfi_cmd_tbolt_tqh, cmd, next);
 	memset((uint8_t *)cmd->sg_frame, 0, MEGASAS_MAX_SZ_CHAIN_FRAME);
 	memset((uint8_t *)cmd->io_request, 0,