diff --git a/distributed/system_monitor.py b/distributed/system_monitor.py
index 062409ddfcb..711650242e2 100644
--- a/distributed/system_monitor.py
+++ b/distributed/system_monitor.py
@@ -116,20 +116,23 @@ def update(self):
             except Exception:
                 pass
             else:
-                last_disk = self._last_disk_io_counters
-                duration_disk = now - self.last_time_disk
-                read_bytes_disk = (disk_ioc.read_bytes - last_disk.read_bytes) / (
-                    duration_disk or 0.5
-                )
-                write_bytes_disk = (disk_ioc.write_bytes - last_disk.write_bytes) / (
-                    duration_disk or 0.5
-                )
-                self.last_time_disk = now
-                self._last_disk_io_counters = disk_ioc
-                self.read_bytes_disk.append(read_bytes_disk)
-                self.write_bytes_disk.append(write_bytes_disk)
-                result["read_bytes_disk"] = read_bytes_disk
-                result["write_bytes_disk"] = write_bytes_disk
+                if disk_ioc is None:  # diskless machine
+                    self._collect_disk_io_counters = False
+                else:
+                    last_disk = self._last_disk_io_counters
+                    duration_disk = now - self.last_time_disk
+                    read_bytes_disk = (disk_ioc.read_bytes - last_disk.read_bytes) / (
+                        duration_disk or 0.5
+                    )
+                    write_bytes_disk = (
+                        disk_ioc.write_bytes - last_disk.write_bytes
+                    ) / (duration_disk or 0.5)
+                    self.last_time_disk = now
+                    self._last_disk_io_counters = disk_ioc
+                    self.read_bytes_disk.append(read_bytes_disk)
+                    self.write_bytes_disk.append(write_bytes_disk)
+                    result["read_bytes_disk"] = read_bytes_disk
+                    result["write_bytes_disk"] = write_bytes_disk
 
         if not WINDOWS:
             num_fds = self.proc.num_fds()