diff --git a/include/net/inet_common.h b/include/net/inet_common.h
index 4a92423eefa5..82669da2540c 100644
--- a/include/net/inet_common.h
+++ b/include/net/inet_common.h
@@ -41,7 +41,8 @@ int inet_recv_error(struct sock *sk, struct msghdr *msg, int len,
 
 static inline void inet_ctl_sock_destroy(struct sock *sk)
 {
-	sk_release_kernel(sk);
+	if (sk)
+		sk_release_kernel(sk);
 }
 
 #endif