diff --git a/builder/googlecompute/driver_gce.go b/builder/googlecompute/driver_gce.go
index f2adaa591..10ec4e292 100644
--- a/builder/googlecompute/driver_gce.go
+++ b/builder/googlecompute/driver_gce.go
@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@ func NewClientGCE(conf *jwt.Config) (*http.Client, error) {
 	var client *http.Client
 
 	// Auth with AccountFile first if provided
-	if len(conf.PrivateKey) > 0 {
+	if conf != nil && len(conf.PrivateKey) > 0 {
 		log.Printf("[INFO] Requesting Google token via account_file...")
 		log.Printf("[INFO]   -- Email: %s", conf.Email)
 		log.Printf("[INFO]   -- Scopes: %s", DriverScopes)