--- a/src/dsdv/model/dsdv-routing-protocol.cc
+++ b/src/dsdv/model/dsdv-routing-protocol.cc
@@ -1158,7 +1158,13 @@
             else
             {
                 RoutingTableEntry newrt;
-                m_routingTable.LookupRoute(rt.GetNextHop(), newrt);
+                if (!m_routingTable.LookupRoute(rt.GetNextHop(), newrt))
+                {
+                    NS_LOG_LOGIC("No route to next hop "
+                                 << rt.GetNextHop() << "; leaving packets queued for "
+                                 << rt.GetDestination());
+                    continue;
+                }
                 route = newrt.GetRoute();
                 NS_ASSERT(route);
                 NS_LOG_LOGIC("A route exists from " << route->GetSource() << " to destination "