diff --git a/cmd/natc/natc.go b/cmd/natc/natc.go
index 41166fd4a..df458755c 100644
--- a/cmd/natc/natc.go
+++ b/cmd/natc/natc.go
@@ -489,6 +489,9 @@ type perPeerState struct {
 func (ps *perPeerState) domainForIP(ip netip.Addr) (_ string, ok bool) {
 	ps.mu.Lock()
 	defer ps.mu.Unlock()
+	if ps.addrToDomain == nil {
+		return "", false
+	}
 	return ps.addrToDomain.Lookup(ip)
 }