diff --git a/changes/bug21128 b/changes/bug21128
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..972d2a28182e566825fe7b16292160a406aef8fc
--- /dev/null
+++ b/changes/bug21128
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+  o Minor bugfixes (client, entry guards):
+    - Fix a bug warning (with backtrace) when we fail a channel
+      that circuits to fallback directories on it. Fixes bug 21128;
+      bugfix on 0.3.0.1-alpha.
+
diff --git a/src/or/entrynodes.c b/src/or/entrynodes.c
index c5fb92e35a434a489814e4b6556e842510ed877d..f9b3b60a6f364c89f38dcb2115b6a1103711e094 100644
--- a/src/or/entrynodes.c
+++ b/src/or/entrynodes.c
@@ -2172,7 +2172,11 @@ entry_guard_chan_failed(channel_t *chan)
       continue;
 
     origin_circuit_t *origin_circ = TO_ORIGIN_CIRCUIT(circ);
-    entry_guard_failed(&origin_circ->guard_state);
+    if (origin_circ->guard_state) {
+      /* We might have no guard state if we didn't use a guard on this
+       * circuit (eg it's for a fallback directory). */
+      entry_guard_failed(&origin_circ->guard_state);
+    }
   } SMARTLIST_FOREACH_END(circ);
   smartlist_free(pending);
 }