diff --git a/isisd/isis_pdu.c b/isisd/isis_pdu.c
index a2ab064..26330a4 100644
--- a/isisd/isis_pdu.c
+++ b/isisd/isis_pdu.c
@@ -1781,6 +1781,9 @@
   circuit = THREAD_ARG (thread);
   assert (circuit);
 
+  if (!circuit->area)
+    return ISIS_OK;
+
   if (circuit->rcv_stream == NULL)
     circuit->rcv_stream = stream_new (ISO_MTU (circuit));
   else
@@ -2088,6 +2091,11 @@
 
   circuit = THREAD_ARG (thread);
   assert (circuit);
+
+  if (!circuit->area) {
+    return ISIS_OK;
+  }
+
   circuit->u.bc.t_send_lan_hello[1] = NULL;
 
   if (circuit->u.bc.run_dr_elect[1])