diff --git a/lib/repo.c b/lib/repo.c
index 7a3d591c..76c559a0 100644
--- a/lib/repo.c
+++ b/lib/repo.c
@@ -336,6 +336,9 @@ xbps_repo_get_pkg_revdeps(struct xbps_repo *repo, const char *pkg)
 	char *buf = NULL;
 	bool match = false;
 
+	if (repo->idx == NULL)
+		return NULL;
+
 	if (((pkgd = xbps_rpool_get_pkg(repo->xhp, pkg)) == NULL) &&
 	    ((pkgd = xbps_rpool_get_virtualpkg(repo->xhp, pkg)) == NULL)) {
 		errno = ENOENT;