diff --git a/sys/net/route/route_ctl.c b/sys/net/route/route_ctl.c
index d3a35018ae66..92c7db1d5e29 100644
--- a/sys/net/route/route_ctl.c
+++ b/sys/net/route/route_ctl.c
@@ -148,7 +148,7 @@ destroy_rtentry(struct rtentry *rt)
 	CURVNET_SET(nhop_get_vnet(nh));
 
 	/* Unreference nexthop */
-	nhop_free_any(rt->rt_nhop);
+	nhop_free_any(nh);
 
 	uma_zfree(V_rtzone, rt);