diff --git a/net/batman-adv/soft-interface.c b/net/batman-adv/soft-interface.c
index c002961da75d..a2fc843c2243 100644
--- a/net/batman-adv/soft-interface.c
+++ b/net/batman-adv/soft-interface.c
@@ -479,6 +479,9 @@ out:
  */
 void batadv_softif_vlan_free_ref(struct batadv_softif_vlan *vlan)
 {
+	if (!vlan)
+		return;
+
 	if (atomic_dec_and_test(&vlan->refcount)) {
 		spin_lock_bh(&vlan->bat_priv->softif_vlan_list_lock);
 		hlist_del_rcu(&vlan->list);
diff --git a/net/batman-adv/translation-table.c b/net/batman-adv/translation-table.c
index b4824951010b..38b83c50f936 100644
--- a/net/batman-adv/translation-table.c
+++ b/net/batman-adv/translation-table.c
@@ -594,6 +594,9 @@ bool batadv_tt_local_add(struct net_device *soft_iface, const uint8_t *addr,
 
 	/* increase the refcounter of the related vlan */
 	vlan = batadv_softif_vlan_get(bat_priv, vid);
+	if (WARN(!vlan, "adding TT local entry %pM to non-existent VLAN %d",
+		 addr, BATADV_PRINT_VID(vid)))
+		goto out;
 
 	batadv_dbg(BATADV_DBG_TT, bat_priv,
 		   "Creating new local tt entry: %pM (vid: %d, ttvn: %d)\n",
@@ -1066,6 +1069,9 @@ uint16_t batadv_tt_local_remove(struct batadv_priv *bat_priv,
 
 	/* decrease the reference held for this vlan */
 	vlan = batadv_softif_vlan_get(bat_priv, vid);
+	if (!vlan)
+		goto out;
+
 	batadv_softif_vlan_free_ref(vlan);
 	batadv_softif_vlan_free_ref(vlan);
 
@@ -1166,8 +1172,10 @@ static void batadv_tt_local_table_free(struct batadv_priv *bat_priv)
 			/* decrease the reference held for this vlan */
 			vlan = batadv_softif_vlan_get(bat_priv,
 						      tt_common_entry->vid);
-			batadv_softif_vlan_free_ref(vlan);
-			batadv_softif_vlan_free_ref(vlan);
+			if (vlan) {
+				batadv_softif_vlan_free_ref(vlan);
+				batadv_softif_vlan_free_ref(vlan);
+			}
 
 			batadv_tt_local_entry_free_ref(tt_local);
 		}
@@ -3207,8 +3215,10 @@ static void batadv_tt_local_purge_pending_clients(struct batadv_priv *bat_priv)
 
 			/* decrease the reference held for this vlan */
 			vlan = batadv_softif_vlan_get(bat_priv, tt_common->vid);
-			batadv_softif_vlan_free_ref(vlan);
-			batadv_softif_vlan_free_ref(vlan);
+			if (vlan) {
+				batadv_softif_vlan_free_ref(vlan);
+				batadv_softif_vlan_free_ref(vlan);
+			}
 
 			batadv_tt_local_entry_free_ref(tt_local);
 		}