diff --git a/net/ax25/ax25_subr.c b/net/ax25/ax25_subr.c
index 4855d18a8511..038b109b2be7 100644
--- a/net/ax25/ax25_subr.c
+++ b/net/ax25/ax25_subr.c
@@ -264,7 +264,7 @@ void ax25_disconnect(ax25_cb *ax25, int reason)
 {
 	ax25_clear_queues(ax25);
 
-	if (!sock_flag(ax25->sk, SOCK_DESTROY))
+	if (!ax25->sk || !sock_flag(ax25->sk, SOCK_DESTROY))
 		ax25_stop_heartbeat(ax25);
 	ax25_stop_t1timer(ax25);
 	ax25_stop_t2timer(ax25);