--- linux-work/drivers/net/pppoe.c-o	2002-08-06 22:51:27.000000000 +0200
+++ linux-work/drivers/net/pppoe.c	2002-09-27 14:36:10.000000000 +0200
@@ -653,8 +653,10 @@
 	release_sock(sk);
 	return error;
 err_put:
-	dev_put(po->pppoe_dev);
-	po->pppoe_dev = NULL;
+	if (po->pppoe_dev) {
+		dev_put(po->pppoe_dev);
+		po->pppoe_dev = NULL;
+	}
 	goto end;
 }