diff --git a/package/gluon-mesh-vpn-core/src/respondd.c b/package/gluon-mesh-vpn-core/src/respondd.c
index 8f11a35f..ed3019b8 100644
--- a/package/gluon-mesh-vpn-core/src/respondd.c
+++ b/package/gluon-mesh-vpn-core/src/respondd.c
@@ -110,6 +110,9 @@ static struct json_object * get_mesh_vpn_enabled() {
 	int enabled = -1;
 	char *line = read_stdout("exec lua -e 'print(require(\"gluon.mesh-vpn\").enabled())'");
 
+	if (!line)
+		return NULL;
+
 	if (!strcmp(line, "true"))
 		enabled = 1;
 	if (!strcmp(line, "false"))
@@ -126,7 +129,7 @@ static struct json_object * get_mesh_vpn_enabled() {
 static struct json_object * get_active_vpn_provider() {
 	char *line = read_stdout("exec lua -e 'name, _ = require(\"gluon.mesh-vpn\").get_active_provider(); print(name)'");
 
-	if (!strcmp(line, "nil")) {
+	if (line && !strcmp(line, "nil")) {
 		free(line);
 		return NULL;
 	}