diff --git a/sys/netinet6/ip6_input.c b/sys/netinet6/ip6_input.c
index 54688e22b17..228777bbf09 100644
--- a/sys/netinet6/ip6_input.c
+++ b/sys/netinet6/ip6_input.c
@@ -567,7 +567,8 @@ passin:
 		LLE_RUNLOCK(lle);
 		goto hbhcheck;
 	}
-	LLE_RUNLOCK(lle);
+	if (lle != NULL)
+		LLE_RUNLOCK(lle);
 
 	if (V_ip6_forward_rt.ro_rt != NULL &&
 	    (V_ip6_forward_rt.ro_rt->rt_flags & RTF_UP) != 0 &&