diff --git a/net/batman-adv/gateway_client.c b/net/batman-adv/gateway_client.c
index a3e842fd0f9..41eba8a660f 100644
--- a/net/batman-adv/gateway_client.c
+++ b/net/batman-adv/gateway_client.c
@@ -54,6 +54,9 @@ void *gw_get_selected(struct bat_priv *bat_priv)
 
 	orig_node = curr_gateway_tmp->orig_node;
 
+	if (orig_node)
+		kref_get(&orig_node->refcount);
+
 out:
 	rcu_read_unlock();
 	return orig_node;
diff --git a/net/batman-adv/unicast.c b/net/batman-adv/unicast.c
index 7ca994ccac1..0603ceaeef6 100644
--- a/net/batman-adv/unicast.c
+++ b/net/batman-adv/unicast.c
@@ -293,10 +293,9 @@ int unicast_send_skb(struct sk_buff *skb, struct bat_priv *bat_priv)
 	spin_lock_bh(&bat_priv->orig_hash_lock);
 
 	/* get routing information */
-	if (is_multicast_ether_addr(ethhdr->h_dest))
+	if (is_multicast_ether_addr(ethhdr->h_dest)) {
 		orig_node = (struct orig_node *)gw_get_selected(bat_priv);
-		if (orig_node) {
-			kref_get(&orig_node->refcount);
+		if (orig_node)
 			goto find_router;
 	}