diff --git a/src/java.base/unix/native/libnet/net_util_md.c b/src/java.base/unix/native/libnet/net_util_md.c
index 86df4978257..92cbd208c6e 100644
--- a/src/java.base/unix/native/libnet/net_util_md.c
+++ b/src/java.base/unix/native/libnet/net_util_md.c
@@ -584,6 +584,8 @@ static void initLoopbackRoutes() {
 
                 if (loRoutesTemp == 0) {
                     free(loRoutes);
+                    loRoutes = NULL;
+                    nRoutes = 0;
                     fclose (f);
                     return;
                 }