diff --git a/zebra/zebra_rib.c b/zebra/zebra_rib.c
index 98e66cd017..f0601012b6 100644
--- a/zebra/zebra_rib.c
+++ b/zebra/zebra_rib.c
@@ -1046,14 +1046,18 @@ static struct route_entry *rib_choose_best(struct route_entry *current,
 		struct nexthop *nexthop = NULL;
 
 		for (ALL_NEXTHOPS(alternate->ng, nexthop)) {
-			if (if_is_loopback_or_vrf(if_lookup_by_index(
-				    nexthop->ifindex, alternate->vrf_id)))
+			struct interface *ifp = if_lookup_by_index(
+				nexthop->ifindex, alternate->vrf_id);
+
+			if (ifp && if_is_loopback_or_vrf(ifp))
 				return alternate;
 		}
 
 		for (ALL_NEXTHOPS(current->ng, nexthop)) {
-			if (if_is_loopback_or_vrf(if_lookup_by_index(
-				    nexthop->ifindex, current->vrf_id)))
+			struct interface *ifp = if_lookup_by_index(
+				nexthop->ifindex, current->vrf_id);
+
+			if (ifp && if_is_loopback_or_vrf(ifp))
 				return current;
 		}