diff --git a/net/tipc/topsrv.c b/net/tipc/topsrv.c
index 41f4464ac6cc..ec9a7137d267 100644
--- a/net/tipc/topsrv.c
+++ b/net/tipc/topsrv.c
@@ -407,7 +407,9 @@ static int tipc_conn_rcv_from_sock(struct tipc_conn *con)
 		return -EWOULDBLOCK;
 	if (ret == sizeof(s)) {
 		read_lock_bh(&sk->sk_callback_lock);
-		ret = tipc_conn_rcv_sub(srv, con, &s);
+		/* RACE: the connection can be closed in the meantime */
+		if (likely(connected(con)))
+			ret = tipc_conn_rcv_sub(srv, con, &s);
 		read_unlock_bh(&sk->sk_callback_lock);
 		if (!ret)
 			return 0;