diff --git a/sys/net/rpl/rpl.c b/sys/net/rpl/rpl.c
index 8ed13323f9..284116f983 100644
--- a/sys/net/rpl/rpl.c
+++ b/sys/net/rpl/rpl.c
@@ -715,7 +715,10 @@ void recv_rpl_dio(void)
     parent->rank = rpl_dio_buf->rank;
     rpl_parent_update(parent);
 
-    if (rpl_equal_id(&parent->addr, &my_dodag->my_preferred_parent->addr) && (parent->dtsn != rpl_dio_buf->dtsn)) {
+    if (my_dodag->my_preferred_parent == NULL) {
+        DEBUG("my dodag has no preferred_parent yet - seems to be odd since I have a parent...\n");
+    }
+    else if (rpl_equal_id(&parent->addr, &my_dodag->my_preferred_parent->addr) && (parent->dtsn != rpl_dio_buf->dtsn)) {
         delay_dao();
     }