diff --git a/drivers/net/hamradio/mkiss.c b/drivers/net/hamradio/mkiss.c
index 7570c73f18c0..bbdb311b8420 100644
--- a/drivers/net/hamradio/mkiss.c
+++ b/drivers/net/hamradio/mkiss.c
@@ -846,12 +846,13 @@ static int mkiss_ioctl(struct tty_struct *tty, struct file *file,
 	unsigned int cmd, unsigned long arg)
 {
 	struct mkiss *ax = mkiss_get(tty);
-	struct net_device *dev = ax->dev;
+	struct net_device *dev;
 	unsigned int tmp, err;
 
 	/* First make sure we're connected. */
 	if (ax == NULL)
 		return -ENXIO;
+	dev = ax->dev;
 
 	switch (cmd) {
  	case SIOCGIFNAME: