diff --git a/tools/python/xen/xend/server/BlktapController.py b/tools/python/xen/xend/server/BlktapController.py
index f75e14dcc3..48cd13e152 100644
--- a/tools/python/xen/xend/server/BlktapController.py
+++ b/tools/python/xen/xend/server/BlktapController.py
@@ -198,7 +198,7 @@ class Blktap2Controller(BlktapController):
                     self.deviceClass = 'tap2'
                     return devid
 
-        if self.vm.image.memory_sharing:
+        if self.vm.image and self.vm.image.memory_sharing:
             cmd = [ TAPDISK_BINARY, '-n', '%s:%s' % (params, file), '-s', '%d' % self.vm.getDomid() ]
         else:
             cmd = [ TAPDISK_BINARY, '-n', '%s:%s' % (params, file) ]