diff --git a/client/internal/routemanager/systemops/systemops.go b/client/internal/routemanager/systemops/systemops.go
index 8724ed1ba..165448b60 100644
--- a/client/internal/routemanager/systemops/systemops.go
+++ b/client/internal/routemanager/systemops/systemops.go
@@ -114,6 +114,9 @@ func (r *SysOps) validateRoute(prefix netip.Prefix) error {
 }
 
 func (r *SysOps) isOwnAddress(addr netip.Addr) bool {
+	if r.wgInterface == nil {
+		return false
+	}
 	wgAddr := r.wgInterface.Address()
 	return wgAddr.Network.Contains(addr) || (wgAddr.IPv6Net.IsValid() && wgAddr.IPv6Net.Contains(addr))
 }