}
 
 #ifdef CONFIG_IPV6_ROUTER_PREF
+struct __rt6_probe_work {
+       struct work_struct work;
+       struct in6_addr target;
+       struct net_device *dev;
+};
+
+static void rt6_probe_deferred(struct work_struct *w)
+{
+       struct in6_addr mcaddr;
+       struct __rt6_probe_work *work =
+               container_of(w, struct __rt6_probe_work, work);
+
+       addrconf_addr_solict_mult(&work->target, &mcaddr);
+       ndisc_send_ns(work->dev, NULL, &work->target, &mcaddr, NULL);
+       dev_put(work->dev);
+       kfree(w);
+}
+
 static void rt6_probe(struct rt6_info *rt)
 {
        struct neighbour *neigh;
 
        if (!neigh ||
            time_after(jiffies, neigh->updated + rt->rt6i_idev->cnf.rtr_probe_interval)) {
-               struct in6_addr mcaddr;
-               struct in6_addr *target;
+               struct __rt6_probe_work *work;
+
+               work = kmalloc(sizeof(*work), GFP_ATOMIC);
 
-               if (neigh) {
+               if (neigh && work)
                        neigh->updated = jiffies;
+
+               if (neigh)
                        write_unlock(&neigh->lock);
-               }
 
-               target = (struct in6_addr *)&rt->rt6i_gateway;
-               addrconf_addr_solict_mult(target, &mcaddr);
-               ndisc_send_ns(rt->dst.dev, NULL, target, &mcaddr, NULL);
+               if (work) {
+                       INIT_WORK(&work->work, rt6_probe_deferred);
+                       work->target = rt->rt6i_gateway;
+                       dev_hold(rt->dst.dev);
+                       work->dev = rt->dst.dev;
+                       schedule_work(&work->work);
+               }
        } else {
 out:
                write_unlock(&neigh->lock);