diff --git a/drivers/base/class.c b/drivers/base/class.c
index 5667c2f..cc5e28c 100644
--- a/drivers/base/class.c
+++ b/drivers/base/class.c
@@ -295,6 +295,12 @@
 
 	if (!class)
 		return -EINVAL;
+	if (!class->p) {
+		WARN(1, "%s called for class '%s' before it was initialized",
+		     __func__, class->name);
+		return -EINVAL;
+	}
+
 	mutex_lock(&class->p->class_mutex);
 	list_for_each_entry(dev, &class->p->class_devices, node) {
 		if (start) {
@@ -344,6 +350,11 @@
 
 	if (!class)
 		return NULL;
+	if (!class->p) {
+		WARN(1, "%s called for class '%s' before it was initialized",
+		     __func__, class->name);
+		return NULL;
+	}
 
 	mutex_lock(&class->p->class_mutex);
 	list_for_each_entry(dev, &class->p->class_devices, node) {