diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/renesas/sh_eth.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/renesas/sh_eth.c
index 6a8fc0f341ff..a1702f4ac6ff 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/renesas/sh_eth.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/renesas/sh_eth.c
@@ -1212,7 +1212,8 @@ static void sh_eth_ring_format(struct net_device *ndev)
 	mdp->dirty_rx = (u32) (i - mdp->num_rx_ring);
 
 	/* Mark the last entry as wrapping the ring. */
-	rxdesc->status |= cpu_to_edmac(mdp, RD_RDLE);
+	if (rxdesc)
+		rxdesc->status |= cpu_to_edmac(mdp, RD_RDLE);
 
 	memset(mdp->tx_ring, 0, tx_ringsize);