diff --git a/kernel/bpf/sockmap.c b/kernel/bpf/sockmap.c
index 8ddf326b3adee..8dd9210d7db78 100644
--- a/kernel/bpf/sockmap.c
+++ b/kernel/bpf/sockmap.c
@@ -182,8 +182,10 @@ static void bpf_tcp_release(struct sock *sk)
 		psock->cork = NULL;
 	}
 
-	sk->sk_prot = psock->sk_proto;
-	psock->sk_proto = NULL;
+	if (psock->sk_proto) {
+		sk->sk_prot = psock->sk_proto;
+		psock->sk_proto = NULL;
+	}
 out:
 	rcu_read_unlock();
 }