diff --git a/tools/libxc/xc_domain_save.c b/tools/libxc/xc_domain_save.c
index fcc7718ecb..c359649edb 100644
--- a/tools/libxc/xc_domain_save.c
+++ b/tools/libxc/xc_domain_save.c
@@ -2040,7 +2040,7 @@ int xc_domain_save(xc_interface *xch, int io_fd, uint32_t dom, uint32_t max_iter
     }
 
     /* Flush last write and discard cache for file. */
-    if ( outbuf_flush(xch, ob, io_fd) < 0 ) {
+    if ( ob && outbuf_flush(xch, ob, io_fd) < 0 ) {
         PERROR("Error when flushing output buffer");
         rc = 1;
     }