diff --git a/net/batman-adv/hard-interface.c b/net/batman-adv/hard-interface.c
index 08ce36147c4c3a76bba8d98004617f7a7f03a2e6..e034afbd1bb025ea884ffc623c9467a730c463be 100644
--- a/net/batman-adv/hard-interface.c
+++ b/net/batman-adv/hard-interface.c
@@ -652,7 +652,6 @@ void batadv_hardif_disable_interface(struct batadv_hard_iface *hard_iface,
 			batadv_softif_destroy_sysfs(hard_iface->soft_iface);
 	}
 
-	hard_iface->soft_iface = NULL;
 	batadv_hardif_put(hard_iface);
 
 out: