diff --git a/bgpd/bgp_nexthop.c b/bgpd/bgp_nexthop.c
index f048ae2895..261a86ea8d 100644
--- a/bgpd/bgp_nexthop.c
+++ b/bgpd/bgp_nexthop.c
@@ -577,6 +577,9 @@ bgp_address_add (struct prefix *p)
   tmp.addr = p->u.prefix4;
 
   addr = hash_get (bgp_address_hash, &tmp, bgp_address_hash_alloc);
+  if (!addr)
+    return;
+
   addr->refcnt++;
 }