diff --git a/net/route/net_alloc_ramroute.c b/net/route/net_alloc_ramroute.c
index 85d8127574..17d60f7f03 100644
--- a/net/route/net_alloc_ramroute.c
+++ b/net/route/net_alloc_ramroute.c
@@ -159,6 +159,11 @@ FAR struct net_route_ipv4_s *net_allocroute_ipv4(void)
   route = ramroute_ipv4_remfirst(&g_free_ipv4routes);
 
   net_unlock();
+  if (!route)
+    {
+      return NULL;
+    }
+
   return &route->entry;
 }
 #endif
@@ -177,6 +182,11 @@ FAR struct net_route_ipv6_s *net_allocroute_ipv6(void)
   route = ramroute_ipv6_remfirst(&g_free_ipv6routes);
 
   net_unlock();
+  if (!route)
+    {
+      return NULL;
+    }
+
   return &route->entry;
 }
 #endif