diff --git a/net/ipv4/ipip.c b/net/ipv4/ipip.c
index 988f52f..e1e1757 100644
--- a/net/ipv4/ipip.c
+++ b/net/ipv4/ipip.c
@@ -469,7 +469,8 @@
 			.proto = IPPROTO_IPIP
 		};
 
-		if (ip_route_output_key(dev_net(dev), &rt, &fl)) {
+		rt = ip_route_output_key(dev_net(dev), &fl);
+		if (IS_ERR(rt)) {
 			dev->stats.tx_carrier_errors++;
 			goto tx_error_icmp;
 		}
@@ -590,9 +591,9 @@
 			.fl4_tos = RT_TOS(iph->tos),
 			.proto = IPPROTO_IPIP
 		};
-		struct rtable *rt;
+		struct rtable *rt = ip_route_output_key(dev_net(dev), &fl);
 
-		if (!ip_route_output_key(dev_net(dev), &rt, &fl)) {
+		if (!IS_ERR(rt)) {
 			tdev = rt->dst.dev;
 			ip_rt_put(rt);
 		}