diff --git a/core/hdd/src/wlan_hdd_tx_rx.c b/core/hdd/src/wlan_hdd_tx_rx.c
index 33b348b57b36..36d01598bcdb 100644
--- a/core/hdd/src/wlan_hdd_tx_rx.c
+++ b/core/hdd/src/wlan_hdd_tx_rx.c
@@ -1540,7 +1540,10 @@ static bool hdd_is_arp_local(struct sk_buff *skb)
 
 	arp = (struct arphdr *)skb->data;
 	if (arp->ar_op == htons(ARPOP_REQUEST)) {
-		rtnl_lock();
+		/* if fail to acquire rtnl lock, assume it's local arp */
+		if (!rtnl_trylock())
+			return true;
+
 		in_dev = __in_dev_get_rtnl(skb->dev);
 		if (in_dev) {
 			for (ifap = &in_dev->ifa_list; (ifa = *ifap) != NULL;