diff --git a/src/libcharon/plugins/kernel_netlink/kernel_netlink_net.c b/src/libcharon/plugins/kernel_netlink/kernel_netlink_net.c
index 278ea647b..a25b7840c 100644
--- a/src/libcharon/plugins/kernel_netlink/kernel_netlink_net.c
+++ b/src/libcharon/plugins/kernel_netlink/kernel_netlink_net.c
@@ -1372,6 +1372,7 @@ static void process_route(private_kernel_netlink_net_t *this,
 				if (RTA_PAYLOAD(rta) == sizeof(uint32_t) &&
 					this->routing_table == *(uint32_t*)RTA_DATA(rta))
 				{
+					DESTROY_IF(host);
 					return;
 				}
 				break;