diff --git a/lib/nvmf/rdma.c b/lib/nvmf/rdma.c
index 235ae7194..b04ad5ef8 100644
--- a/lib/nvmf/rdma.c
+++ b/lib/nvmf/rdma.c
@@ -1487,6 +1487,14 @@ spdk_nvmf_rdma_listen(struct spdk_nvmf_transport *transport,
 		return rc;
 	}
 
+	if (!port->id->verbs) {
+		SPDK_ERRLOG("ibv_context is null\n");
+		rdma_destroy_id(port->id);
+		free(port);
+		pthread_mutex_unlock(&rtransport->lock);
+		return -1;
+	}
+
 	rc = rdma_listen(port->id, 10); /* 10 = backlog */
 	if (rc < 0) {
 		SPDK_ERRLOG("rdma_listen() failed\n");