diff --git a/net/netrom/nr_route.c b/net/netrom/nr_route.c
index 8a5375e1dcc7..88c59bd0f739 100644
--- a/net/netrom/nr_route.c
+++ b/net/netrom/nr_route.c
@@ -777,7 +777,7 @@ int nr_route_frame(struct sk_buff *skb, ax25_cb *ax25)
 		return ret;
 	}
 
-	if (!sysctl_netrom_routing_control && ax25 != NULL)
+	if (!READ_ONCE(sysctl_netrom_routing_control) && ax25 != NULL)
 		return 0;
 
 	/* Its Time-To-Live has expired */