diff --git a/net/ieee802154/6lowpan/core.c b/net/ieee802154/6lowpan/core.c
index 974765b7d92a..e9f0489e4229 100644
--- a/net/ieee802154/6lowpan/core.c
+++ b/net/ieee802154/6lowpan/core.c
@@ -206,9 +206,13 @@ static inline void lowpan_netlink_fini(void)
 static int lowpan_device_event(struct notifier_block *unused,
 			       unsigned long event, void *ptr)
 {
-	struct net_device *wdev = netdev_notifier_info_to_dev(ptr);
+	struct net_device *ndev = netdev_notifier_info_to_dev(ptr);
+	struct wpan_dev *wpan_dev;
 
-	if (wdev->type != ARPHRD_IEEE802154)
+	if (ndev->type != ARPHRD_IEEE802154)
+		return NOTIFY_DONE;
+	wpan_dev = ndev->ieee802154_ptr;
+	if (!wpan_dev)
 		return NOTIFY_DONE;
 
 	switch (event) {
@@ -217,8 +221,8 @@ static int lowpan_device_event(struct notifier_block *unused,
 		 * also delete possible lowpan interfaces which belongs
 		 * to the wpan interface.
 		 */
-		if (wdev->ieee802154_ptr->lowpan_dev)
-			lowpan_dellink(wdev->ieee802154_ptr->lowpan_dev, NULL);
+		if (wpan_dev->lowpan_dev)
+			lowpan_dellink(wpan_dev->lowpan_dev, NULL);
 		break;
 	default:
 		return NOTIFY_DONE;