diff --git a/tsnet/tsnet.go b/tsnet/tsnet.go
index e021a55fa..ac685b9b4 100644
--- a/tsnet/tsnet.go
+++ b/tsnet/tsnet.go
@@ -214,7 +214,12 @@ func (s *Server) Loopback() (addr string, proxyCred, localAPICred string, err er
 		}()
 	}
 
-	return s.loopbackListener.Addr().String(), s.proxyCred, s.localAPICred, nil
+	lbAddr := s.loopbackListener.Addr()
+	if lbAddr == nil {
+		// https://github.com/tailscale/tailscale/issues/7488
+		panic("loopbackListener has no Addr")
+	}
+	return lbAddr.String(), s.proxyCred, s.localAPICred, nil
 }
 
 type localSecHandler struct {