diff --git a/src/applet-dbus-manager.c b/src/applet-dbus-manager.c
index 68cce7f..2059f03 100644
--- a/src/applet-dbus-manager.c
+++ b/src/applet-dbus-manager.c
@@ -139,7 +139,7 @@ static gboolean
 request_name (DBusGProxy *proxy, int flags, const char *detail)
 {
 	int request_name_result;
-	GError *error;
+	GError *error = NULL;
 
 	if (!dbus_g_proxy_call (proxy, "RequestName", &error,
 	                        G_TYPE_STRING, NM_DBUS_SERVICE_USER_SETTINGS,
@@ -147,9 +147,12 @@ request_name (DBusGProxy *proxy, int flags, const char *detail)
 	                        G_TYPE_INVALID,
 	                        G_TYPE_UINT, &request_name_result,
 	                        G_TYPE_INVALID)) {
-		nm_warning ("Could not acquire the %s service.\n"
-		            "  Message: '%s'", detail, error->message);
-		g_error_free (error);
+		if (error) {
+			nm_warning ("Could not acquire the %s service.\n"
+					"  Message: '%s'", detail, 
+					error->message);
+			g_error_free (error);
+		}
 		return FALSE;
 	}
 
