diff --git a/include/net/inet_common.h b/include/net/inet_common.h
index 22fac9892b160..df3be8f857c54 100644
--- a/include/net/inet_common.h
+++ b/include/net/inet_common.h
@@ -38,7 +38,8 @@ extern int inet_ctl_sock_create(struct sock **sk, unsigned short family,
 
 static inline void inet_ctl_sock_destroy(struct sock *sk)
 {
-	sk_release_kernel(sk);
+	if (sk)
+		sk_release_kernel(sk);
 }
 
 #endif