diff --git a/core/hdd/src/wlan_hdd_tx_rx.c b/core/hdd/src/wlan_hdd_tx_rx.c
index adab904200c8..346f02040077 100644
--- a/core/hdd/src/wlan_hdd_tx_rx.c
+++ b/core/hdd/src/wlan_hdd_tx_rx.c
@@ -1540,6 +1540,7 @@ static bool hdd_is_arp_local(struct sk_buff *skb)
 
 	arp = (struct arphdr *)skb->data;
 	if (arp->ar_op == htons(ARPOP_REQUEST)) {
+		rtnl_lock();
 		in_dev = __in_dev_get_rtnl(skb->dev);
 		if (in_dev) {
 			for (ifap = &in_dev->ifa_list; (ifa = *ifap) != NULL;
@@ -1556,9 +1557,12 @@ static bool hdd_is_arp_local(struct sk_buff *skb)
 			memcpy(&tip, arp_ptr, 4);
 			hdd_debug("ARP packet: local IP: %x dest IP: %x",
 				ifa->ifa_local, tip);
-			if (ifa->ifa_local == tip)
+			if (ifa->ifa_local == tip) {
+				rtnl_unlock();
 				return true;
+			}
 		}
+		rtnl_unlock();
 	}
 
 	return false;