diff --git a/degesch.c b/degesch.c
index 5a5110f..8562946 100644
--- a/degesch.c
+++ b/degesch.c
@@ -6399,6 +6399,11 @@ config_dump_item (struct config_item_ *item, struct config_dump_data *data)
 		return;
 	}
 
+	// Currently there's no reason for us to dump unknown items
+	struct config_schema *schema = item->schema;
+	if (!schema)
+		return;
+
 	struct str line;
 	str_init (&line);
 
@@ -6416,7 +6421,6 @@ config_dump_item (struct config_item_ *item, struct config_dump_data *data)
 	config_item_write (item, false, &value);
 
 	// Don't bother writing out null values everywhere
-	struct config_schema *schema = item->schema;
 	bool has_default = schema && schema->default_;
 	if (item->type != CONFIG_ITEM_NULL || has_default)
 	{