diff --git a/net/l2tp/l2tp_ip.c b/net/l2tp/l2tp_ip.c
index 70614e7affa..61d8b75d268 100644
--- a/net/l2tp/l2tp_ip.c
+++ b/net/l2tp/l2tp_ip.c
@@ -464,10 +464,12 @@ static int l2tp_ip_sendmsg(struct kiocb *iocb, struct sock *sk, struct msghdr *m
 					   sk->sk_bound_dev_if);
 		if (IS_ERR(rt))
 			goto no_route;
-		if (connected)
+		if (connected) {
 			sk_setup_caps(sk, &rt->dst);
-		else
-			dst_release(&rt->dst); /* safe since we hold rcu_read_lock */
+		} else {
+			skb_dst_set(skb, &rt->dst);
+			goto xmit;
+		}
 	}
 
 	/* We dont need to clone dst here, it is guaranteed to not disappear.
@@ -475,6 +477,7 @@ static int l2tp_ip_sendmsg(struct kiocb *iocb, struct sock *sk, struct msghdr *m
 	 */
 	skb_dst_set_noref(skb, &rt->dst);
 
+xmit:
 	/* Queue the packet to IP for output */
 	rc = ip_queue_xmit(skb, &inet->cork.fl);
 	rcu_read_unlock();