diff --git a/net/ipv6/ip6_output.c b/net/ipv6/ip6_output.c
index 2aa39ce7093d..05e19e5d6514 100644
--- a/net/ipv6/ip6_output.c
+++ b/net/ipv6/ip6_output.c
@@ -508,7 +508,7 @@ int ip6_forward(struct sk_buff *skb)
 		goto drop;
 
 	if (!net->ipv6.devconf_all->disable_policy &&
-	    !idev->cnf.disable_policy &&
+	    (!idev || !idev->cnf.disable_policy) &&
 	    !xfrm6_policy_check(NULL, XFRM_POLICY_FWD, skb)) {
 		__IP6_INC_STATS(net, idev, IPSTATS_MIB_INDISCARDS);
 		goto drop;