diff --git a/net/batman-adv/main.c b/net/batman-adv/main.c
index 1240f07ad31dc..51aafd669cbbd 100644
--- a/net/batman-adv/main.c
+++ b/net/batman-adv/main.c
@@ -181,6 +181,7 @@ void batadv_mesh_free(struct net_device *soft_iface)
 	batadv_originator_free(bat_priv);
 
 	free_percpu(bat_priv->bat_counters);
+	bat_priv->bat_counters = NULL;
 
 	atomic_set(&bat_priv->mesh_state, BATADV_MESH_INACTIVE);
 }
diff --git a/net/batman-adv/soft-interface.c b/net/batman-adv/soft-interface.c
index 6f20d339e33ad..819dfb006cdfa 100644
--- a/net/batman-adv/soft-interface.c
+++ b/net/batman-adv/soft-interface.c
@@ -505,6 +505,7 @@ static int batadv_softif_init_late(struct net_device *dev)
 	batadv_debugfs_del_meshif(dev);
 free_bat_counters:
 	free_percpu(bat_priv->bat_counters);
+	bat_priv->bat_counters = NULL;
 
 	return ret;
 }