diff --git a/sys/net/gnrc/sock/ip/gnrc_sock_ip.c b/sys/net/gnrc/sock/ip/gnrc_sock_ip.c
index c79cc7eda031d..fa56c115e88ff 100644
--- a/sys/net/gnrc/sock/ip/gnrc_sock_ip.c
+++ b/sys/net/gnrc/sock/ip/gnrc_sock_ip.c
@@ -194,7 +194,7 @@ ssize_t sock_ip_send(sock_ip_t *sock, const void *data, size_t len,
         gnrc_ep_set(&rem, remote, sizeof(rem));
     }
     if ((remote != NULL) && (remote->family == AF_UNSPEC) &&
-        (sock->remote.family != AF_UNSPEC)) {
+        (sock != NULL) && (sock->remote.family != AF_UNSPEC)) {
         /* remote was set on create so take its family */
         rem.family = sock->remote.family;
     }