diff --git a/sys/netpfil/pf/pf.c b/sys/netpfil/pf/pf.c
index 027d48c82688..a150c7e86e5e 100644
--- a/sys/netpfil/pf/pf.c
+++ b/sys/netpfil/pf/pf.c
@@ -3371,13 +3371,10 @@ pf_step_out_of_anchor(struct pf_kanchor_stackframe *stack, int *depth,
 		f = stack + *depth - 1;
 		fr = PF_ANCHOR_RULE(f);
 		if (f->child != NULL) {
-			struct pf_kanchor_node *parent;
-
 			/*
 			 * This block traverses through
 			 * a wildcard anchor.
 			 */
-			parent = &fr->anchor->children;
 			if (match != NULL && *match) {
 				/*
 				 * If any of "*" matched, then
@@ -3387,7 +3384,8 @@ pf_step_out_of_anchor(struct pf_kanchor_stackframe *stack, int *depth,
 				PF_ANCHOR_SET_MATCH(f);
 				*match = 0;
 			}
-			f->child = RB_NEXT(pf_kanchor_node, parent, f->child);
+			f->child = RB_NEXT(pf_kanchor_node,
+			    &fr->anchor->children, f->child);
 			if (f->child != NULL) {
 				*rs = &f->child->ruleset;
 				*r = TAILQ_FIRST((*rs)->rules[n].active.ptr);
@@ -3475,12 +3473,10 @@ pf_step_out_of_keth_anchor(struct pf_keth_anchor_stackframe *stack, int *depth,
 		f = stack + *depth - 1;
 		fr = PF_ETH_ANCHOR_RULE(f);
 		if (f->child != NULL) {
-			struct pf_keth_anchor_node *parent;
 			/*
 			 * This block traverses through
 			 * a wildcard anchor.
 			 */
-			parent = &fr->anchor->children;
 			if (match != NULL && *match) {
 				/*
 				 * If any of "*" matched, then
@@ -3490,8 +3486,8 @@ pf_step_out_of_keth_anchor(struct pf_keth_anchor_stackframe *stack, int *depth,
 				PF_ETH_ANCHOR_SET_MATCH(f);
 				*match = 0;
 			}
-			f->child = RB_NEXT(pf_keth_anchor_node, parent,
-			    f->child);
+			f->child = RB_NEXT(pf_keth_anchor_node,
+			    &fr->anchor->children, f->child);
 			if (f->child != NULL) {
 				*rs = &f->child->ruleset;
 				*r = TAILQ_FIRST((*rs)->active.rules);