diff --git a/net/ieee802154/6lowpan/core.c b/net/ieee802154/6lowpan/core.c
index 018929563c6b..6a8d6852cb93 100644
--- a/net/ieee802154/6lowpan/core.c
+++ b/net/ieee802154/6lowpan/core.c
@@ -150,7 +150,7 @@ static int lowpan_newlink(struct net_device *ldev,
 	wdev = dev_get_by_index(dev_net(ldev), nla_get_u32(tb[IFLA_LINK]));
 	if (!wdev)
 		return -ENODEV;
-	if (wdev->type != ARPHRD_IEEE802154) {
+	if (wdev->type != ARPHRD_IEEE802154 || !wdev->ieee802154_ptr) {
 		dev_put(wdev);
 		return -EINVAL;
 	}