diff --git a/net/rose/rose_link.c b/net/rose/rose_link.c
index 8b96a56d3a49..0f77ae8ef944 100644
--- a/net/rose/rose_link.c
+++ b/net/rose/rose_link.c
@@ -236,6 +236,9 @@ void rose_transmit_clear_request(struct rose_neigh *neigh, unsigned int lci, uns
 	unsigned char *dptr;
 	int len;
 
+	if (!neigh->dev)
+		return;
+
 	len = AX25_BPQ_HEADER_LEN + AX25_MAX_HEADER_LEN + ROSE_MIN_LEN + 3;
 
 	if ((skb = alloc_skb(len, GFP_ATOMIC)) == NULL)