diff --git a/net/netrom/nr_route.c b/net/netrom/nr_route.c
index b94cb2ffbaf8..aa72c4db2be4 100644
--- a/net/netrom/nr_route.c
+++ b/net/netrom/nr_route.c
@@ -242,11 +242,12 @@ static int __must_check nr_add_node(ax25_address *nr, const char *mnemonic,
 		} else {
 			/* It must be better than the worst */
 			if (quality > nr_node->routes[2].quality) {
-				nr_node->routes[2].neighbour->count--;
-				nr_neigh_put(nr_node->routes[2].neighbour);
+				struct nr_neigh *old_neighbour = nr_node->routes[2].neighbour;
+				old_neighbour->count--;
+				nr_neigh_put(old_neighbour);
 
-				if (nr_node->routes[2].neighbour->count == 0 && !nr_node->routes[2].neighbour->locked)
-					nr_remove_neigh(nr_node->routes[2].neighbour);
+				if (old_neighbour->count == 0 && !old_neighbour->locked)
+					nr_remove_neigh(old_neighbour);
 
 				nr_node->routes[2].quality   = quality;
 				nr_node->routes[2].obs_count = obs_count;