diff --git a/net/core/neighbour.c b/net/core/neighbour.c
index 6635b83113f8f..472a615775f32 100644
--- a/net/core/neighbour.c
+++ b/net/core/neighbour.c
@@ -132,6 +132,9 @@ static void neigh_update_gc_list(struct neighbour *n)
 	write_lock_bh(&n->tbl->lock);
 	write_lock(&n->lock);
 
+	if (n->dead)
+		goto out;
+
 	/* remove from the gc list if new state is permanent or if neighbor
 	 * is externally learned; otherwise entry should be on the gc list
 	 */
@@ -148,6 +151,7 @@ static void neigh_update_gc_list(struct neighbour *n)
 		atomic_inc(&n->tbl->gc_entries);
 	}
 
+out:
 	write_unlock(&n->lock);
 	write_unlock_bh(&n->tbl->lock);
 }