diff --git a/src/lib/ethumb/ethumb.c b/src/lib/ethumb/ethumb.c
index 1f2cfb6ee8..78cd66cc18 100644
--- a/src/lib/ethumb/ethumb.c
+++ b/src/lib/ethumb/ethumb.c
@@ -212,9 +212,12 @@ _ethumb_plugins_load(void)
 static void
 _ethumb_plugins_unload(void)
 {
-   eina_module_list_free(_plugins);
-   eina_array_free(_plugins);
-   _plugins = NULL;
+   if (_plugins)
+     {
+        eina_module_list_free(_plugins);
+        eina_array_free(_plugins);
+        _plugins = NULL;
+     }
 
    eina_hash_free(_plugins_ext);
    _plugins_ext = NULL;