diff --git a/include/net/inet_common.h b/include/net/inet_common.h
index 18c773286b917..1fb67ab46ad0b 100644
--- a/include/net/inet_common.h
+++ b/include/net/inet_common.h
@@ -47,7 +47,8 @@ extern int			inet_ctl_sock_create(struct sock **sk,
 
 static inline void inet_ctl_sock_destroy(struct sock *sk)
 {
-	sk_release_kernel(sk);
+	if (sk)
+		sk_release_kernel(sk);
 }
 
 #endif