diff --git a/drivers/net/bonding/bond_main.c b/drivers/net/bonding/bond_main.c
index fd6aff9f0052..1bf4f54c2bef 100644
--- a/drivers/net/bonding/bond_main.c
+++ b/drivers/net/bonding/bond_main.c
@@ -3889,7 +3889,7 @@ out:
 		 * this to-be-skipped slave to send a packet out.
 		 */
 		old_arr = rtnl_dereference(bond->slave_arr);
-		for (idx = 0; idx < old_arr->count; idx++) {
+		for (idx = 0; old_arr != NULL && idx < old_arr->count; idx++) {
 			if (skipslave == old_arr->arr[idx]) {
 				old_arr->arr[idx] =
 				    old_arr->arr[old_arr->count-1];