diff --git a/criu/net.c b/criu/net.c
index 936611de8..4215b8503 100644
--- a/criu/net.c
+++ b/criu/net.c
@@ -1541,13 +1541,18 @@ static inline int restore_iptables(int pid)
 	struct cr_img *img;
 
 	img = open_image(CR_FD_IPTABLES, O_RSTR, pid);
-	if (img) {
-		ret = run_iptables_tool("iptables-restore", img_raw_fd(img), -1);
-		close_image(img);
+	if (img == NULL)
+		return -1;
+	if (empty_image(img)) {
+		ret = 0;
+		goto ipt6;
 	}
+
+	ret = run_iptables_tool("iptables-restore", img_raw_fd(img), -1);
+	close_image(img);
 	if (ret)
 		return ret;
-
+ipt6:
 	img = open_image(CR_FD_IP6TABLES, O_RSTR, pid);
 	if (img == NULL)
 		return -1;