diff --git a/net/core/neighbour.c b/net/core/neighbour.c
index 6b76cd103195..7212c7e521ef 100644
--- a/net/core/neighbour.c
+++ b/net/core/neighbour.c
@@ -988,7 +988,9 @@ static void neigh_periodic_work(struct work_struct *work)
 			    (state == NUD_FAILED ||
 			     !time_in_range_open(jiffies, n->used,
 						 n->used + NEIGH_VAR(n->parms, GC_STALETIME)))) {
-				*np = n->next;
+				rcu_assign_pointer(*np,
+					rcu_dereference_protected(n->next,
+						lockdep_is_held(&tbl->lock)));
 				neigh_mark_dead(n);
 				write_unlock(&n->lock);
 				neigh_cleanup_and_release(n);