diff --git a/drivers/serial/uart_rpmsg.c b/drivers/serial/uart_rpmsg.c
index 97c7dd3ef33eb..0acf287ffd594 100644
--- a/drivers/serial/uart_rpmsg.c
+++ b/drivers/serial/uart_rpmsg.c
@@ -339,7 +339,8 @@ static void uart_rpmsg_device_destroy(FAR struct rpmsg_device *rdev,
   FAR struct uart_dev_s *dev = priv_;
   FAR struct uart_rpmsg_priv_s *priv = dev->priv;
 
-  if (strcmp(priv->cpuname, rpmsg_get_cpuname(rdev)) == 0)
+  if (priv->ept.priv != NULL &&
+      strcmp(priv->cpuname, rpmsg_get_cpuname(rdev)) == 0)
     {
       rpmsg_destroy_ept(&priv->ept);
     }