diff --git a/source/util/src/tconfig.c b/source/util/src/tconfig.c
index 11ae31919a..ab7e30bab2 100644
--- a/source/util/src/tconfig.c
+++ b/source/util/src/tconfig.c
@@ -335,6 +335,7 @@ int32_t cfgSetItem(SConfig *pCfg, const char *name, const char *value, ECfgSrcTy
 }
 
 SConfigItem *cfgGetItem(SConfig *pCfg, const char *name) {
+  if (pCfg == NULL) return NULL;
   int32_t size = taosArrayGetSize(pCfg->array);
   for (int32_t i = 0; i < size; ++i) {
     SConfigItem *pItem = taosArrayGet(pCfg->array, i);