diff --git a/internal/app/machined/pkg/controllers/network/operator/dhcp6.go b/internal/app/machined/pkg/controllers/network/operator/dhcp6.go
index 842d3151e8..9df94881e9 100644
--- a/internal/app/machined/pkg/controllers/network/operator/dhcp6.go
+++ b/internal/app/machined/pkg/controllers/network/operator/dhcp6.go
@@ -177,7 +177,7 @@ func (d *DHCP6) parseReply(reply *dhcpv6.Message) {
 		d.resolvers = nil
 	}
 
-	if len(reply.Options.FQDN().DomainName.Labels) > 0 {
+	if reply.Options.FQDN() != nil && len(reply.Options.FQDN().DomainName.Labels) > 0 {
 		d.hostname = []network.HostnameSpecSpec{
 			{
 				Hostname:    reply.Options.FQDN().DomainName.Labels[0],