diff --git a/net/can/raw.c b/net/can/raw.c
index 649acfa7c70a..0eb39a7fdf64 100644
--- a/net/can/raw.c
+++ b/net/can/raw.c
@@ -305,7 +305,12 @@ static int raw_init(struct sock *sk)
 static int raw_release(struct socket *sock)
 {
 	struct sock *sk = sock->sk;
-	struct raw_sock *ro = raw_sk(sk);
+	struct raw_sock *ro;
+
+	if (!sk)
+		return 0;
+
+	ro = raw_sk(sk);
 
 	unregister_netdevice_notifier(&ro->notifier);