diff --git a/src/http_fetch.c b/src/http_fetch.c
index 0d01b797e..11c1c5ab0 100644
--- a/src/http_fetch.c
+++ b/src/http_fetch.c
@@ -1184,6 +1184,9 @@ static int smp_fetch_proto_http(const struct arg *args, struct sample *smp, cons
 /* return a valid test if the current request is the first one on the connection */
 static int smp_fetch_http_first_req(const struct arg *args, struct sample *smp, const char *kw, void *private)
 {
+	if (!smp->strm)
+		return 0;
+
 	smp->data.type = SMP_T_BOOL;
 	smp->data.u.sint = !(smp->strm->txn->flags & TX_NOT_FIRST);
 	return 1;