diff --git a/net/netrom/nr_route.c b/net/netrom/nr_route.c
index baea3cbd76ca..6f709fdffc11 100644
--- a/net/netrom/nr_route.c
+++ b/net/netrom/nr_route.c
@@ -153,7 +153,7 @@ static int __must_check nr_add_node(ax25_address *nr, const char *mnemonic,
 		nr_neigh->digipeat = NULL;
 		nr_neigh->ax25     = NULL;
 		nr_neigh->dev      = dev;
-		nr_neigh->quality  = sysctl_netrom_default_path_quality;
+		nr_neigh->quality  = READ_ONCE(sysctl_netrom_default_path_quality);
 		nr_neigh->locked   = 0;
 		nr_neigh->count    = 0;
 		nr_neigh->number   = nr_neigh_no++;