diff --git a/src/afs/afs_server.c b/src/afs/afs_server.c
index 7b5949ccde..32c2891d8e 100644
--- a/src/afs/afs_server.c
+++ b/src/afs/afs_server.c
@@ -1696,7 +1696,7 @@ afs_GetCapabilities(struct server *ts)
     struct unixuser *tu;
     afs_int32 code;
 
-    if ( !ts )
+    if ( !ts || !ts->cell )
 	return;
     if ( !afs_osi_credp )
 	return;