diff --git a/net/tipc/node.c b/net/tipc/node.c
index 8e4ef2630ae4..683a136e53ef 100644
--- a/net/tipc/node.c
+++ b/net/tipc/node.c
@@ -1061,18 +1061,23 @@ static void __tipc_node_link_down(struct tipc_node *n, int *bearer_id,
 
 static void tipc_node_link_down(struct tipc_node *n, int bearer_id, bool delete)
 {
-	struct tipc_link_entry *le = &n->links[bearer_id];
 	struct tipc_media_addr *maddr = NULL;
-	struct tipc_link *l = le->link;
 	int old_bearer_id = bearer_id;
+	struct tipc_link_entry *le;
 	struct sk_buff_head xmitq;
-
-	if (!l)
-		return;
+	struct tipc_link *l;
 
 	__skb_queue_head_init(&xmitq);
 
+	/* Synchronize the link lookup with bearer teardown. */
 	tipc_node_write_lock(n);
+	le = &n->links[bearer_id];
+	l = le->link;
+	if (!l) {
+		tipc_node_write_unlock_fast(n);
+		return;
+	}
+
 	if (!tipc_link_is_establishing(l)) {
 		__tipc_node_link_down(n, &bearer_id, &xmitq, &maddr);
 	} else {