diff --git a/net/bridge/br_stp_timer.c b/net/bridge/br_stp_timer.c
index 4fcaa67750fd..7caf7fae2d5b 100644
--- a/net/bridge/br_stp_timer.c
+++ b/net/bridge/br_stp_timer.c
@@ -97,7 +97,9 @@ static void br_forward_delay_timer_expired(unsigned long arg)
 		netif_carrier_on(br->dev);
 	}
 	br_log_state(p);
+	rcu_read_lock();
 	br_ifinfo_notify(RTM_NEWLINK, p);
+	rcu_read_unlock();
 	spin_unlock(&br->lock);
 }