diff --git a/sbin/fsck_ffs/fsutil.c b/sbin/fsck_ffs/fsutil.c
index 5fe09a0c2dcc..bc80e2f3e322 100644
--- a/sbin/fsck_ffs/fsutil.c
+++ b/sbin/fsck_ffs/fsutil.c
@@ -436,13 +436,15 @@ ckfini(int markclean)
 	}
 	if (numbufs != cnt)
 		errx(EEXIT, "panic: lost %d buffers", numbufs - cnt);
-	for (cnt = 0; cnt < sblock.fs_ncg; cnt++) {
-		if (cgbufs[cnt].b_un.b_cg == NULL)
-			continue;
-		flush(fswritefd, &cgbufs[cnt]);
-		free(cgbufs[cnt].b_un.b_cg);
+	if (cgbufs != NULL) {
+		for (cnt = 0; cnt < sblock.fs_ncg; cnt++) {
+			if (cgbufs[cnt].b_un.b_cg == NULL)
+				continue;
+			flush(fswritefd, &cgbufs[cnt]);
+			free(cgbufs[cnt].b_un.b_cg);
+		}
+		free(cgbufs);
 	}
-	free(cgbufs);
 	pbp = pdirbp = (struct bufarea *)0;
 	if (cursnapshot == 0 && sblock.fs_clean != markclean) {
 		if ((sblock.fs_clean = markclean) != 0) {