--- a/open-vm-tools/lib/nicInfo/nicInfoPosix.c
+++ b/open-vm-tools/lib/nicInfo/nicInfoPosix.c
@@ -375,11 +375,14 @@
     * the first non-loopback, internet interface in the interface list.
     */
    for(curr = ifaces; curr != NULL; curr = curr->ifa_next) {
-      int currFamily = ((struct sockaddr_storage *)curr->ifa_addr)->ss_family;
+      int currFamily;
 
-      if (!(curr->ifa_flags & IFF_UP) || curr->ifa_flags & IFF_LOOPBACK) {
+      if (!(curr->ifa_flags & IFF_UP) || curr->ifa_flags & IFF_LOOPBACK || !curr->ifa_addr)
          continue;
-      } else if (currFamily == AF_INET || currFamily == AF_INET6) {
+
+      currFamily = curr->ifa_addr->sa_family;
+
+      if (currFamily == AF_INET || currFamily == AF_INET6) {
          ipstr = ValidateConvertAddress(curr->ifa_addr);
       } else {
          continue;