diff --git a/proto/bgp/packets.c b/proto/bgp/packets.c
index f2e03f87..bf52c8cd 100644
--- a/proto/bgp/packets.c
+++ b/proto/bgp/packets.c
@@ -58,7 +58,7 @@ mrt_put_bgp4_hdr(byte *buf, struct bgp_conn *conn, int as4)
       buf+=4;
     }
 
-  put_u16(buf+0, p->neigh ? p->neigh->iface->index : 0);
+  put_u16(buf+0, (p->neigh && p->neigh->iface) ? p->neigh->iface->index : 0);
   put_u16(buf+2, BGP_AF);
   buf+=4;
   buf = ipa_put_addr(buf, conn->sk ? conn->sk->daddr : IPA_NONE);