diff --git a/src/source-af-packet.c b/src/source-af-packet.c
index 0c50ed219aa6..28a3730b469c 100644
--- a/src/source-af-packet.c
+++ b/src/source-af-packet.c
@@ -661,6 +661,10 @@ static void AFPWritePacket(Packet *p, int version)
     }
 
     /* Index of the network device */
+    if (p->afp_v.peer == NULL) {
+        SCLogError("Peer network device invalid");
+        return;
+    }
     socket_address.sll_ifindex = SC_ATOMIC_GET(p->afp_v.peer->if_idx);
     /* Address length*/
     socket_address.sll_halen = ETH_ALEN;