diff --git a/include/net/netdev_lock.h b/include/net/netdev_lock.h
index 5706835a660c..270e157a4a79 100644
--- a/include/net/netdev_lock.h
+++ b/include/net/netdev_lock.h
@@ -30,7 +30,8 @@ static inline bool netdev_need_ops_lock(const struct net_device *dev)
 	bool ret = dev->request_ops_lock || !!dev->queue_mgmt_ops;
 
 #if IS_ENABLED(CONFIG_NET_SHAPER)
-	ret |= !!dev->netdev_ops->net_shaper_ops;
+	if (dev->netdev_ops)
+		ret |= !!dev->netdev_ops->net_shaper_ops;
 #endif
 
 	return ret;