diff --git a/src/proto_tcp.c b/src/proto_tcp.c
index f379fd1..5cef4e2 100644
--- a/src/proto_tcp.c
+++ b/src/proto_tcp.c
@@ -1362,7 +1362,7 @@
 	}
 
 	_HA_ATOMIC_ADD(&sess->fe->fe_counters.denied_req, 1);
-	if (sess->listener->counters)
+	if (sess->listener && sess->listener->counters)
 		_HA_ATOMIC_ADD(&sess->listener->counters->denied_req, 1);
 
 	return ACT_RET_STOP;