diff --git a/source/RPL/rpl_upward.c b/source/RPL/rpl_upward.c
index 496313a08a37..e25c4a675f64 100644
--- a/source/RPL/rpl_upward.c
+++ b/source/RPL/rpl_upward.c
@@ -533,6 +533,9 @@ bool rpl_neighbour_update_dtsn(rpl_neighbour_t *neighbour, uint8_t dtsn)
 
 rpl_instance_t *rpl_neighbour_instance(const rpl_neighbour_t *neighbour)
 {
+    if (!neighbour || !neighbour->dodag_version || !neighbour->dodag_version->dodag) {
+        return NULL;
+    }
     return neighbour->dodag_version->dodag->instance;
 }