diff --git a/net/ipv4/icmp.c b/net/ipv4/icmp.c
index a62b4c4033cc..568bd1e95d44 100644
--- a/net/ipv4/icmp.c
+++ b/net/ipv4/icmp.c
@@ -1079,10 +1079,12 @@ static void icmp_socket_deliver(struct sk_buff *skb, u32 info)
 
 static bool icmp_tag_validation(int proto)
 {
+	const struct net_protocol *ipprot;
 	bool ok;
 
 	rcu_read_lock();
-	ok = rcu_dereference(inet_protos[proto])->icmp_strict_tag_validation;
+	ipprot = rcu_dereference(inet_protos[proto]);
+	ok = ipprot ? ipprot->icmp_strict_tag_validation : false;
 	rcu_read_unlock();
 	return ok;
 }