diff --git a/net/ipv4/route.c b/net/ipv4/route.c
index 987bf9adb318..df948b0f1ac9 100644
--- a/net/ipv4/route.c
+++ b/net/ipv4/route.c
@@ -2585,9 +2585,10 @@ static int ip_route_output_slow(struct net *net, struct rtable **rp,
 			goto out;
 
 		/* RACE: Check return value of inet_select_addr instead. */
-		if (rcu_dereference(dev_out->ip_ptr) == NULL)
-			goto out;	/* Wrong error code */
-
+		if (!(dev_out->flags & IFF_UP) || !__in_dev_get_rcu(dev_out)) {
+			err = -ENETUNREACH;
+			goto out;
+		}
 		if (ipv4_is_local_multicast(oldflp->fl4_dst) ||
 		    ipv4_is_lbcast(oldflp->fl4_dst)) {
 			if (!fl.fl4_src)