diff --git a/lib/privs.c b/lib/privs.c
index 09efedf684..eb0dbe0783 100644
--- a/lib/privs.c
+++ b/lib/privs.c
@@ -406,9 +406,11 @@ static void zprivs_caps_init(struct zebra_privs_t *zprivs)
 
 static void zprivs_caps_terminate(void)
 {
-	/* clear all capabilities */
+	/* Clear all capabilities, if we have any. */
 	if (zprivs_state.caps)
 		cap_clear(zprivs_state.caps);
+	else
+		return;
 
 	/* and boom, capabilities are gone forever */
 	if (cap_set_proc(zprivs_state.caps)) {