diff --git a/sys/netinet/ip_input.c b/sys/netinet/ip_input.c
index 7f8703ff5c09..572b7919b146 100644
--- a/sys/netinet/ip_input.c
+++ b/sys/netinet/ip_input.c
@@ -1268,7 +1268,8 @@ ip_forward(struct mbuf *m, int srcrt)
 	}
 #endif
 
-	if (!srcrt && (ia = ip_rtaddr(ip->ip_dst)) == NULL) {
+	ia = ip_rtaddr(ip->ip_dst);
+	if (!srcrt && ia == NULL) {
 		icmp_error(m, ICMP_UNREACH, ICMP_UNREACH_HOST, 0, 0);
 		return;
 	}