diff --git a/sys/kern/subr_pctrie.c b/sys/kern/subr_pctrie.c
--- a/sys/kern/subr_pctrie.c
+++ b/sys/kern/subr_pctrie.c
@@ -514,8 +514,7 @@
 		parent = node;
 		node = pctrie_node_load(&node->pn_child[slot], smr, access);
 	}
-	if (parent_out != NULL)
-		*parent_out = parent;
+	*parent_out = parent;
 	return (node);
 }