diff --git a/src/core/ext/client_config/uri_parser.c b/src/core/ext/client_config/uri_parser.c
index bc80432336e..5e8432c6c8d 100644
--- a/src/core/ext/client_config/uri_parser.c
+++ b/src/core/ext/client_config/uri_parser.c
@@ -282,6 +282,7 @@ grpc_uri *grpc_uri_parse(const char *uri_text, int suppress_errors) {
 }
 
 const char *grpc_uri_get_query_arg(const grpc_uri *uri, const char *key) {
+  if (uri == NULL) return NULL;
   GPR_ASSERT(key != NULL);
   if (key[0] == '\0') return NULL;