diff --git a/net/can/j1939/main.c b/net/can/j1939/main.c
index def2f813ffce..8dc935dc2e54 100644
--- a/net/can/j1939/main.c
+++ b/net/can/j1939/main.c
@@ -207,6 +207,9 @@ static inline struct j1939_priv *j1939_ndev_to_priv(struct net_device *ndev)
 {
 	struct can_ml_priv *can_ml_priv = ndev->ml_priv;
 
+	if (!can_ml_priv)
+		return NULL;
+
 	return can_ml_priv->j1939_priv;
 }