diff --git a/include/dm/read.h b/include/dm/read.h
index f6f8b875d1..03ba98232a 100644
--- a/include/dm/read.h
+++ b/include/dm/read.h
@@ -1006,7 +1006,7 @@ static inline u64 dev_translate_dma_address(const struct udevice *dev,
 
 static inline int dev_read_alias_highest_id(const char *stem)
 {
-	if (!CONFIG_IS_ENABLED(OF_LIBFDT))
+	if (!CONFIG_IS_ENABLED(OF_LIBFDT) || !gd->fdt_blob)
 		return -1;
 	return fdtdec_get_alias_highest_id(gd->fdt_blob, stem);
 }