diff --git a/plugins/colorhug/fu-colorhug-device.c b/plugins/colorhug/fu-colorhug-device.c
index 813829e98..309afadbb 100644
--- a/plugins/colorhug/fu-colorhug-device.c
+++ b/plugins/colorhug/fu-colorhug-device.c
@@ -371,8 +371,10 @@ fu_colorhug_device_setup(FuDevice *device, GError **error)
 		/* although guessing is a route to insanity, if the device has
 		 * provided the extra data it's because the BCD type was not
 		 * suitable -- and INTEL_ME is not relevant here */
-		fu_device_set_version_format(device, fu_common_version_guess_format(tmp));
-		fu_device_set_version(device, tmp);
+		if (tmp != NULL) {
+			fu_device_set_version_format(device, fu_common_version_guess_format(tmp));
+			fu_device_set_version(device, tmp);
+		}
 	}
 
 	/* get GUID from the descriptor if set */