diff --git a/net/batman-adv/hard-interface.c b/net/batman-adv/hard-interface.c
index 60cee2c2f2f4..03d01c20a954 100644
--- a/net/batman-adv/hard-interface.c
+++ b/net/batman-adv/hard-interface.c
@@ -814,30 +814,6 @@ int batadv_hardif_enable_interface(struct batadv_hard_iface *hard_iface,
 	return ret;
 }
 
-/**
- * batadv_hardif_cnt() - get number of interfaces enslaved to mesh interface
- * @mesh_iface: mesh interface to check
- *
- * This function is only using RCU for locking - the result can therefore be
- * off when another function is modifying the list at the same time. The
- * caller can use the rtnl_lock to make sure that the count is accurate.
- *
- * Return: number of connected/enslaved hard interfaces
- */
-static size_t batadv_hardif_cnt(struct net_device *mesh_iface)
-{
-	struct batadv_hard_iface *hard_iface;
-	struct list_head *iter;
-	size_t count = 0;
-
-	rcu_read_lock();
-	netdev_for_each_lower_private_rcu(mesh_iface, hard_iface, iter)
-		count++;
-	rcu_read_unlock();
-
-	return count;
-}
-
 /**
  * batadv_hardif_disable_interface() - Remove hard interface from mesh interface
  * @hard_iface: hard interface to be removed
@@ -878,8 +854,8 @@ void batadv_hardif_disable_interface(struct batadv_hard_iface *hard_iface)
 	netdev_upper_dev_unlink(hard_iface->net_dev, hard_iface->mesh_iface);
 	batadv_hardif_recalc_extra_skbroom(hard_iface->mesh_iface);
 
-	/* nobody uses this interface anymore */
-	if (batadv_hardif_cnt(hard_iface->mesh_iface) <= 1)
+	/* nobody uses this mesh interface anymore */
+	if (list_empty(&hard_iface->mesh_iface->adj_list.lower))
 		batadv_gw_check_client_stop(bat_priv);
 
 	hard_iface->mesh_iface = NULL;