diff --git a/net/ipv6/route.c b/net/ipv6/route.c
index fa276448d5a2..71e578ed8699 100644
--- a/net/ipv6/route.c
+++ b/net/ipv6/route.c
@@ -5203,9 +5203,11 @@ static int ip6_route_multipath_add(struct fib6_config *cfg,
 		 * nexthops have been replaced by first new, the rest should
 		 * be added to it.
 		 */
-		cfg->fc_nlinfo.nlh->nlmsg_flags &= ~(NLM_F_EXCL |
-						     NLM_F_REPLACE);
-		cfg->fc_nlinfo.nlh->nlmsg_flags |= NLM_F_CREATE;
+		if (cfg->fc_nlinfo.nlh) {
+			cfg->fc_nlinfo.nlh->nlmsg_flags &= ~(NLM_F_EXCL |
+							     NLM_F_REPLACE);
+			cfg->fc_nlinfo.nlh->nlmsg_flags |= NLM_F_CREATE;
+		}
 		nhn++;
 	}