diff --git a/src/lxc/network.c b/src/lxc/network.c
index ce10d3180..909f3fe35 100644
--- a/src/lxc/network.c
+++ b/src/lxc/network.c
@@ -144,6 +144,8 @@ int lxc_netdev_move_by_name(const char *ifname, pid_t pid)
 		return -EINVAL;
 
 	index = if_nametoindex(ifname);
+	if (!index)
+		return -EINVAL;
 
 	return lxc_netdev_move_by_index(index, pid);
 }