diff --git a/azurerm/resource_arm_virtual_network_gateway.go b/azurerm/resource_arm_virtual_network_gateway.go
index eeb0a5283b3c..9e0bd65c7629 100644
--- a/azurerm/resource_arm_virtual_network_gateway.go
+++ b/azurerm/resource_arm_virtual_network_gateway.go
@@ -463,6 +463,10 @@ func getArmVirtualNetworkGatewayProperties(d *schema.ResourceData) (*network.Vir
 
 func expandArmVirtualNetworkGatewayBgpSettings(d *schema.ResourceData) *network.BgpSettings {
 	bgpSets := d.Get("bgp_settings").([]interface{})
+	if len(bgpSets) == 0 {
+		return nil
+	}
+
 	bgp := bgpSets[0].(map[string]interface{})
 
 	asn := int64(bgp["asn"].(int))