diff --git a/net/bridge/br_netlink.c b/net/bridge/br_netlink.c
index b93f42c515da..4fbcea0e7ecb 100644
--- a/net/bridge/br_netlink.c
+++ b/net/bridge/br_netlink.c
@@ -543,7 +543,7 @@ int br_setlink(struct net_device *dev, struct nlmsghdr *nlh, u16 flags)
 				afspec, RTM_SETLINK);
 	}
 
-	if (!(flags & BRIDGE_FLAGS_SELF)) {
+	if (p && !(flags & BRIDGE_FLAGS_SELF)) {
 		/* set bridge attributes in hardware if supported
 		 */
 		ret_offload = netdev_switch_port_bridge_setlink(dev, nlh,
@@ -583,7 +583,7 @@ int br_dellink(struct net_device *dev, struct nlmsghdr *nlh, u16 flags)
 		 */
 		br_ifinfo_notify(RTM_NEWLINK, p);
 
-	if (!(flags & BRIDGE_FLAGS_SELF)) {
+	if (p && !(flags & BRIDGE_FLAGS_SELF)) {
 		/* del bridge attributes in hardware
 		 */
 		ret_offload = netdev_switch_port_bridge_dellink(dev, nlh,