diff --git a/include/linux/netdevice.h b/include/linux/netdevice.h
index 861f2480c457..ed2d53140005 100644
--- a/include/linux/netdevice.h
+++ b/include/linux/netdevice.h
@@ -3980,7 +3980,8 @@ void netdev_run_todo(void);
  */
 static inline void dev_put(struct net_device *dev)
 {
-	this_cpu_dec(*dev->pcpu_refcnt);
+	if (dev)
+		this_cpu_dec(*dev->pcpu_refcnt);
 }
 
 /**
@@ -3991,7 +3992,8 @@ static inline void dev_put(struct net_device *dev)
  */
 static inline void dev_hold(struct net_device *dev)
 {
-	this_cpu_inc(*dev->pcpu_refcnt);
+	if (dev)
+		this_cpu_inc(*dev->pcpu_refcnt);
 }
 
 /* Carrier loss detection, dial on demand. The functions netif_carrier_on