diff --git a/src/evict.cpp b/src/evict.cpp
index d336bc8b8..012a6afc3 100644
--- a/src/evict.cpp
+++ b/src/evict.cpp
@@ -766,7 +766,7 @@ int performEvictions(bool fPreSnapshot) {
                  * memory, don't want to spend too much time here.  */
                 if (elapsedUs(evictionTimer) > eviction_time_limit_us) {
                     // We still need to free memory - start eviction timer proc
-                    if (!isEvictionProcRunning) {
+                    if (!isEvictionProcRunning && serverTL->el != nullptr) {
                         isEvictionProcRunning = 1;
                         aeCreateTimeEvent(serverTL->el, 0,
                                 evictionTimeProc, NULL, NULL);