diff --git a/matlab/+caffe/Net.m b/matlab/+caffe/Net.m
index 349e060e..bb99ec89 100644
--- a/matlab/+caffe/Net.m
+++ b/matlab/+caffe/Net.m
@@ -69,7 +69,9 @@
       self.blob_names = self.attributes.blob_names;
     end
     function delete (self)
-      caffe_('delete_net', self.hNet_self);
+      if ~isempty(self.hNet_self)
+        caffe_('delete_net', self.hNet_self);
+      end
     end
     function layer = layers(self, layer_name)
       CHECK(ischar(layer_name), 'layer_name must be a string');