diff --git a/bgpd/bgp_attr.c b/bgpd/bgp_attr.c
index 05cf63e053..cc7afbe74f 100644
--- a/bgpd/bgp_attr.c
+++ b/bgpd/bgp_attr.c
@@ -4982,7 +4982,7 @@ bgp_size_t bgp_packet_attribute(struct bgp *bgp, struct peer *peer,
 	}
 
 	/* BGP Link-State */
-	if (attr->link_state) {
+	if (attr && attr->link_state) {
 		stream_putc(s, BGP_ATTR_FLAG_OPTIONAL);
 		stream_putc(s, BGP_ATTR_LINK_STATE);
 		stream_putc(s, attr->link_state->length);