diff --git a/include/linux/netdevice.h b/include/linux/netdevice.h
index 5fbb9f1da7fd..913b1cc882cf 100644
--- a/include/linux/netdevice.h
+++ b/include/linux/netdevice.h
@@ -589,7 +589,9 @@ extern int sysctl_fb_tunnels_only_for_init_net;
 
 static inline bool net_has_fallback_tunnels(const struct net *net)
 {
-	return net == &init_net || !sysctl_fb_tunnels_only_for_init_net;
+	return net == &init_net ||
+	       !IS_ENABLED(CONFIG_SYSCTL) ||
+	       !sysctl_fb_tunnels_only_for_init_net;
 }
 
 static inline int netdev_queue_numa_node_read(const struct netdev_queue *q)