diff --git a/include/net/route.h b/include/net/route.h
index bc40b633a5c4..2ea40c1b5e00 100644
--- a/include/net/route.h
+++ b/include/net/route.h
@@ -198,10 +198,13 @@ struct in_ifaddr;
 extern void fib_add_ifaddr(struct in_ifaddr *);
 extern void fib_del_ifaddr(struct in_ifaddr *, struct in_ifaddr *);
 
-static inline void ip_rt_put(struct rtable * rt)
+static inline void ip_rt_put(struct rtable *rt)
 {
-	if (rt)
-		dst_release(&rt->dst);
+	/* dst_release() accepts a NULL parameter.
+	 * We rely on dst being first structure in struct rtable
+	 */
+	BUILD_BUG_ON(offsetof(struct rtable, dst) != 0);
+	dst_release(&rt->dst);
 }
 
 #define IPTOS_RT_MASK	(IPTOS_TOS_MASK & ~3)