diff --git a/sys/dev/raid/hptmv/hptproc.c b/sys/dev/raid/hptmv/hptproc.c
--- a/sys/dev/raid/hptmv/hptproc.c
+++ b/sys/dev/raid/hptmv/hptproc.c
@@ -306,6 +306,10 @@
 			/*
 			  * call kernel handler.
 			  */
+			if (gIal_Adapter == NULL) {
+				kfree(ke_area, M_DEVBUF);
+				return -ENODEV;
+			}
 			err = Kernel_DeviceIoControl(&gIal_Adapter->VBus,
 				piop->dwIoControlCode, ke_area, piop->nInBufferSize,
 				ke_area + piop->nInBufferSize, piop->nOutBufferSize, &dwRet);