diff --git a/client/platforms/linux/daemon/wireguardutilslinux.cpp b/client/platforms/linux/daemon/wireguardutilslinux.cpp
index 1b7cddc8e..be9ead885 100644
--- a/client/platforms/linux/daemon/wireguardutilslinux.cpp
+++ b/client/platforms/linux/daemon/wireguardutilslinux.cpp
@@ -237,7 +237,11 @@ bool WireguardUtilsLinux::updatePeer(const InterfaceConfig& config) {
     // Exclude the server address, except for multihop exit servers.
     if ((config.m_hopType != InterfaceConfig::MultiHopExit) &&
         (m_rtmonitor != nullptr)) {
-        m_rtmonitor->addExclusionRoute(IPAddress(config.m_serverIpv4AddrIn));
+        if (!config.m_serverIpv4AddrIn.isEmpty() &&
+            !m_rtmonitor->addExclusionRoute(IPAddress(config.m_serverIpv4AddrIn))) {
+            logger.error() << "No gateway — cannot add server exclusion route";
+            return false;
+        }
         m_rtmonitor->addExclusionRoute(IPAddress(config.m_serverIpv6AddrIn));
     }