diff --git a/net/9p/trans_virtio.c b/net/9p/trans_virtio.c
index daa749c..d8e376a 100644
--- a/net/9p/trans_virtio.c
+++ b/net/9p/trans_virtio.c
@@ -524,6 +524,12 @@
 	int err;
 	struct virtio_chan *chan;
 
+	if (!vdev->config->get) {
+		dev_err(&vdev->dev, "%s failure: config access disabled\n",
+			__func__);
+		return -EINVAL;
+	}
+
 	chan = kmalloc(sizeof(struct virtio_chan), GFP_KERNEL);
 	if (!chan) {
 		pr_err("Failed to allocate virtio 9P channel\n");