diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/mellanox/mlx5/core/en_tc.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/mellanox/mlx5/core/en_tc.c
index e3cf5f484153..d87a82682cb5 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/mellanox/mlx5/core/en_tc.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/mellanox/mlx5/core/en_tc.c
@@ -731,8 +731,8 @@ static int mlx5e_route_lookup_ipv6(struct mlx5e_priv *priv,
 	int ret;
 
 	dst = ip6_route_output(dev_net(mirred_dev), NULL, fl6);
-	if (dst->error) {
-		ret = dst->error;
+	ret = dst->error;
+	if (ret) {
 		dst_release(dst);
 		return ret;
 	}