diff --git a/net/smc/smc_pnet.c b/net/smc/smc_pnet.c
index 9007c7e3bae4..30bae60d626c 100644
--- a/net/smc/smc_pnet.c
+++ b/net/smc/smc_pnet.c
@@ -310,8 +310,9 @@ static struct smc_ib_device *smc_pnet_find_ib(char *ib_name)
 	list_for_each_entry(ibdev, &smc_ib_devices.list, list) {
 		if (!strncmp(ibdev->ibdev->name, ib_name,
 			     sizeof(ibdev->ibdev->name)) ||
-		    !strncmp(dev_name(ibdev->ibdev->dev.parent), ib_name,
-			     IB_DEVICE_NAME_MAX - 1)) {
+		    (ibdev->ibdev->dev.parent &&
+		     !strncmp(dev_name(ibdev->ibdev->dev.parent), ib_name,
+			     IB_DEVICE_NAME_MAX - 1))) {
 			goto out;
 		}
 	}