diff --git a/components/esp_netif/lwip/esp_netif_lwip.c b/components/esp_netif/lwip/esp_netif_lwip.c
index 230a56e25d..663014ce64 100644
--- a/components/esp_netif/lwip/esp_netif_lwip.c
+++ b/components/esp_netif/lwip/esp_netif_lwip.c
@@ -71,7 +71,7 @@
  * @brief macros to check netif related data to evaluate interface type
  */
 #if CONFIG_PPP_SUPPORT
-#define _IS_NETIF_ANY_POINT2POINT_TYPE(netif) (netif->related_data && netif->related_data->is_point2point)
+#define _IS_NETIF_ANY_POINT2POINT_TYPE(netif) (netif && netif->related_data && netif->related_data->is_point2point)
 #else
 #define _IS_NETIF_ANY_POINT2POINT_TYPE(netif) false
 #endif