diff --git a/net/batman-adv/hard-interface.c b/net/batman-adv/hard-interface.c
index 20f7c397817c8..a82ab29aef334 100644
--- a/net/batman-adv/hard-interface.c
+++ b/net/batman-adv/hard-interface.c
@@ -217,14 +217,16 @@ static struct net_device *batadv_get_real_netdevice(struct net_device *netdev)
 	struct net_device *real_netdev = NULL;
 	struct net *real_net;
 	struct net *net;
-	int ifindex;
+	int iflink;
 
 	ASSERT_RTNL();
 
 	if (!netdev)
 		return NULL;
 
-	if (netdev->ifindex == dev_get_iflink(netdev)) {
+	iflink = dev_get_iflink(netdev);
+
+	if (netdev->ifindex == iflink) {
 		dev_hold(netdev);
 		return netdev;
 	}
@@ -234,9 +236,8 @@ static struct net_device *batadv_get_real_netdevice(struct net_device *netdev)
 		goto out;
 
 	net = dev_net(hard_iface->soft_iface);
-	ifindex = dev_get_iflink(netdev);
 	real_net = batadv_getlink_net(netdev, net);
-	real_netdev = dev_get_by_index(real_net, ifindex);
+	real_netdev = dev_get_by_index(real_net, iflink);
 
 out:
 	if (hard_iface)