diff --git a/net/ipv6/ip6_output.c b/net/ipv6/ip6_output.c
index 770ee7ffb0d5..ce37c8345579 100644
--- a/net/ipv6/ip6_output.c
+++ b/net/ipv6/ip6_output.c
@@ -221,7 +221,7 @@ int ip6_output(struct net *net, struct sock *sk, struct sk_buff *skb)
 	skb->protocol = htons(ETH_P_IPV6);
 	skb->dev = dev;
 
-	if (unlikely(READ_ONCE(idev->cnf.disable_ipv6))) {
+	if (unlikely(!idev || READ_ONCE(idev->cnf.disable_ipv6))) {
 		IP6_INC_STATS(net, idev, IPSTATS_MIB_OUTDISCARDS);
 		kfree_skb(skb);
 		return 0;