diff --git a/net/ipv6/ip6_output.c b/net/ipv6/ip6_output.c
index df79044fbf3c..796cf0a0a422 100644
--- a/net/ipv6/ip6_output.c
+++ b/net/ipv6/ip6_output.c
@@ -1993,6 +1993,7 @@ int ip6_send_skb(struct sk_buff *skb)
 	struct rt6_info *rt = (struct rt6_info *)skb_dst(skb);
 	int err;
 
+	rcu_read_lock();
 	err = ip6_local_out(net, skb->sk, skb);
 	if (err) {
 		if (err > 0)
@@ -2002,6 +2003,7 @@ int ip6_send_skb(struct sk_buff *skb)
 				      IPSTATS_MIB_OUTDISCARDS);
 	}
 
+	rcu_read_unlock();
 	return err;
 }