diff --git a/drivers/net/hamradio/6pack.c b/drivers/net/hamradio/6pack.c
index 50f1e172ee8f..2d4089894ec7 100644
--- a/drivers/net/hamradio/6pack.c
+++ b/drivers/net/hamradio/6pack.c
@@ -717,11 +717,12 @@ static int sixpack_ioctl(struct tty_struct *tty, struct file *file,
 	unsigned int cmd, unsigned long arg)
 {
 	struct sixpack *sp = sp_get(tty);
-	struct net_device *dev = sp->dev;
+	struct net_device *dev;
 	unsigned int tmp, err;
 
 	if (!sp)
 		return -ENXIO;
+	dev = sp->dev;
 
 	switch(cmd) {
 	case SIOCGIFNAME: