diff --git a/bgpd/bgp_updgrp.c b/bgpd/bgp_updgrp.c
index d2e89a6785..c607c4577d 100644
--- a/bgpd/bgp_updgrp.c
+++ b/bgpd/bgp_updgrp.c
@@ -812,7 +812,7 @@ static void update_subgroup_delete(struct update_subgroup *subgrp)
 		THREAD_TIMER_OFF(subgrp->t_coalesce);
 	sync_delete(subgrp);
 
-	if (BGP_DEBUG(update_groups, UPDATE_GROUPS))
+	if (BGP_DEBUG(update_groups, UPDATE_GROUPS) && subgrp->update_group)
 		zlog_debug("delete subgroup u%" PRIu64 ":s%" PRIu64,
 			   subgrp->update_group->id, subgrp->id);