diff --git a/event.c b/event.c
index f1b8b361..45d91a4a 100644
--- a/event.c
+++ b/event.c
@@ -591,13 +591,21 @@ event_add(struct event *ev, struct timeval *tv)
 int
 event_del(struct event *ev)
 {
-	struct event_base *base = ev->ev_base;
-	const struct eventop *evsel = base->evsel;
-	void *evbase = base->evbase;
+	struct event_base *base;
+	const struct eventop *evsel;
+	void *evbase;
 
 	LOG_DBG((LOG_MISC, 80, "event_del: %p, callback %p",
 		 ev, ev->ev_callback));
 
+	/* An event without a base has not been added */
+	if (ev->ev_base == NULL)
+		return;
+
+	base = ev->ev_base;
+	evsel = base->evsel;
+	evbase = base->evbase;
+
 	assert(!(ev->ev_flags & ~EVLIST_ALL));
 
 	/* See if we are just active executing this event in a loop */