diff --git a/drivers/net/loopback.c b/drivers/net/loopback.c
index 81f8f9e31db5..fcbf680c3e62 100644
--- a/drivers/net/loopback.c
+++ b/drivers/net/loopback.c
@@ -77,6 +77,11 @@ static netdev_tx_t loopback_xmit(struct sk_buff *skb,
 
 	skb_orphan(skb);
 
+	/* Before queueing this packet to netif_rx(),
+	 * make sure dst is refcounted.
+	 */
+	skb_dst_force(skb);
+
 	skb->protocol = eth_type_trans(skb, dev);
 
 	/* it's OK to use per_cpu_ptr() because BHs are off */