diff --git a/internal/aghnet/hostscontainer.go b/internal/aghnet/hostscontainer.go
index 328fbd24190..a8170447d3d 100644
--- a/internal/aghnet/hostscontainer.go
+++ b/internal/aghnet/hostscontainer.go
@@ -139,6 +139,8 @@ type HostsRecord struct {
 func (rec *HostsRecord) equal(other *HostsRecord) (ok bool) {
 	if rec == nil {
 		return other == nil
+	} else if other == nil {
+		return false
 	}
 
 	return rec.Canonical == other.Canonical && rec.Aliases.Equal(other.Aliases)