diff --git a/net/batman-adv/routing.c b/net/batman-adv/routing.c
index 7a1032348ea9..5015430a9549 100644
--- a/net/batman-adv/routing.c
+++ b/net/batman-adv/routing.c
@@ -886,8 +886,6 @@ int batadv_recv_unicast_packet(struct sk_buff *skb,
 	bool is4addr;
 
 	unicast_packet = (struct batadv_unicast_packet *)skb->data;
-	unicast_4addr_packet = (struct batadv_unicast_4addr_packet *)skb->data;
-
 	is4addr = unicast_packet->packet_type == BATADV_UNICAST_4ADDR;
 	/* the caller function should have already pulled 2 bytes */
 	if (is4addr)
@@ -907,9 +905,13 @@ int batadv_recv_unicast_packet(struct sk_buff *skb,
 	if (!batadv_check_unicast_ttvn(bat_priv, skb, hdr_size))
 		return NET_RX_DROP;
 
+	unicast_packet = (struct batadv_unicast_packet *)skb->data;
+
 	/* packet for me */
 	if (batadv_is_my_mac(bat_priv, unicast_packet->dest)) {
 		if (is4addr) {
+			unicast_4addr_packet =
+				(struct batadv_unicast_4addr_packet *)skb->data;
 			batadv_dat_inc_counter(bat_priv,
 					       unicast_4addr_packet->subtype);
 			orig_addr = unicast_4addr_packet->src;