diff --git a/nimble/host/src/ble_hs_hci_cmd.c b/nimble/host/src/ble_hs_hci_cmd.c
index 5dafc66a0..ba3b34ca3 100644
--- a/nimble/host/src/ble_hs_hci_cmd.c
+++ b/nimble/host/src/ble_hs_hci_cmd.c
@@ -70,6 +70,9 @@ ble_hs_hci_cmd_send(uint16_t opcode, uint8_t len, const void *cmddata)
         return BLE_HS_ENOMEM_EVT;
     }
     BLE_HS_DBG_ASSERT(cmd != NULL);
+    if (cmd == NULL) {
+        return BLE_HS_ENOMEM;
+    }
 
     buf = (uint8_t *)cmd;
 #if !(SOC_ESP_NIMBLE_CONTROLLER) && CONFIG_BT_CONTROLLER_ENABLED