diff --git a/src/nccl_ofi_ofiutils.c b/src/nccl_ofi_ofiutils.c
index 046fe7566..56a3c4fe5 100644
--- a/src/nccl_ofi_ofiutils.c
+++ b/src/nccl_ofi_ofiutils.c
@@ -173,6 +173,9 @@ int nccl_ofi_ofiutils_get_providers(const char *prov_include,
 
 	if (!providers)
 		goto error;
+	if (!num_prov_infos)
+		goto error;
+	*num_prov_infos = 0;
 
 	/* Pick a provider name to use.  If there is a prov_include
 	 * provided, use the first provider which matches the list,
@@ -201,7 +204,6 @@ int nccl_ofi_ofiutils_get_providers(const char *prov_include,
 	prov = providers;
 	providers = NULL;
 	last_prov = NULL;
-	*num_prov_infos = 0;
 	while (prov) {
 		struct fi_info *prov_next = prov->next;
 		prov->next = NULL;