diff --git a/daemon/daemon.go b/daemon/daemon.go
index 2ef16242c3..a3f2dace73 100644
--- a/daemon/daemon.go
+++ b/daemon/daemon.go
@@ -979,7 +979,7 @@ func getDefaultRouteMtu() (int, error) {
 		return 0, err
 	}
 	for _, r := range routes {
-		if r.Default {
+		if r.Default && r.Iface != nil {
 			return r.Iface.MTU, nil
 		}
 	}