diff --git a/napalm/ios/ios.py b/napalm/ios/ios.py
index ad35c5a72..92adf1d7c 100644
--- a/napalm/ios/ios.py
+++ b/napalm/ios/ios.py
@@ -3612,7 +3612,10 @@ def get_network_instances(self, name=""):
             first_part = vrf.split("Address family")[0]
 
             # retrieve the name of the VRF and the Route Distinguisher
-            vrf_name, RD = re.match(r"^VRF (\S+).*RD (.*);", first_part).groups()
+            match = re.match(r"^VRF (\S+).*RD (.*);", first_part)
+            if not match:
+                return instances
+            vrf_name, RD = match.groups()
             if RD == "<not set>":
                 RD = ""