diff --git a/sys/netinet/tcp_timer.c b/sys/netinet/tcp_timer.c
index 980037ae317d..18686aa6a8cd 100644
--- a/sys/netinet/tcp_timer.c
+++ b/sys/netinet/tcp_timer.c
@@ -341,7 +341,7 @@ tcp_timer_persist(xtp)
 
 out:
 #ifdef TCPDEBUG
-	if (tp->t_inpcb->inp_socket->so_options & SO_DEBUG)
+	if (tp && tp->t_inpcb->inp_socket->so_options & SO_DEBUG)
 		tcp_trace(TA_USER, ostate, tp, (void *)0, (struct tcphdr *)0,
 			  PRU_SLOWTIMO);
 #endif