diff --git a/scripts/ms-sql-dac.nse b/scripts/ms-sql-dac.nse
index 62c3a7dcb..d92a62ff5 100644
--- a/scripts/ms-sql-dac.nse
+++ b/scripts/ms-sql-dac.nse
@@ -79,7 +79,7 @@ action = function( host )
 		instanceList = mssql.Helper.GetDiscoveredInstances( host )
 	end
 	
-	for _, instance in ipairs(instanceList) do
+	for _, instance in ipairs(instanceList or {}) do
 		local name = instance:GetName():match("^[^\\]*\\(.*)$")
 		if ( name ) then
 			local co = stdnse.new_thread(discoverDAC, host, name, result)