diff --git a/validator/accounts/v2/wallet_create.go b/validator/accounts/v2/wallet_create.go
index 87f141d43..4577196c6 100644
--- a/validator/accounts/v2/wallet_create.go
+++ b/validator/accounts/v2/wallet_create.go
@@ -58,6 +58,9 @@ func CreateWallet(cliCtx *cli.Context) (*Wallet, error) {
 }
 
 func createDirectKeymanagerWallet(cliCtx *cli.Context, wallet *Wallet) error {
+	if wallet == nil {
+		return errors.New("nil wallet")
+	}
 	if err := wallet.SaveWallet(); err != nil {
 		return errors.Wrap(err, "could not save wallet to disk")
 	}