diff --git a/net/batman-adv/bat_v_elp.c b/net/batman-adv/bat_v_elp.c
index 1d704574e6bf..fbf499bcc671 100644
--- a/net/batman-adv/bat_v_elp.c
+++ b/net/batman-adv/bat_v_elp.c
@@ -66,12 +66,19 @@ static void batadv_v_elp_start_timer(struct batadv_hard_iface *hard_iface)
 static u32 batadv_v_elp_get_throughput(struct batadv_hardif_neigh_node *neigh)
 {
 	struct batadv_hard_iface *hard_iface = neigh->if_incoming;
+	struct net_device *soft_iface = hard_iface->soft_iface;
 	struct ethtool_link_ksettings link_settings;
 	struct net_device *real_netdev;
 	struct station_info sinfo;
 	u32 throughput;
 	int ret;
 
+	/* don't query throughput when no longer associated with any
+	 * batman-adv interface
+	 */
+	if (!soft_iface)
+		return BATADV_THROUGHPUT_DEFAULT_VALUE;
+
 	/* if the user specified a customised value for this interface, then
 	 * return it directly
 	 */
@@ -141,7 +148,7 @@ static u32 batadv_v_elp_get_throughput(struct batadv_hardif_neigh_node *neigh)
 
 default_throughput:
 	if (!(hard_iface->bat_v.flags & BATADV_WARNING_DEFAULT)) {
-		batadv_info(hard_iface->soft_iface,
+		batadv_info(soft_iface,
 			    "WiFi driver or ethtool info does not provide information about link speeds on interface %s, therefore defaulting to hardcoded throughput values of %u.%1u Mbps. Consider overriding the throughput manually or checking your driver.\n",
 			    hard_iface->net_dev->name,
 			    BATADV_THROUGHPUT_DEFAULT_VALUE / 10,