diff --git a/services/core/java/com/android/server/net/IpConfigStore.java b/services/core/java/com/android/server/net/IpConfigStore.java
index df1eb6d9fe..d17dbde496 100644
--- a/services/core/java/com/android/server/net/IpConfigStore.java
+++ b/services/core/java/com/android/server/net/IpConfigStore.java
@@ -322,8 +322,11 @@ public class IpConfigStore {
                                     gateway = InetAddresses.parseNumericAddress(in.readUTF());
                                 }
                                 // If the destination is a default IPv4 route, use the gateway
-                                // address unless already set.
-                                if (dest.getAddress() instanceof Inet4Address
+                                // address unless already set. If there is no destination, assume
+                                // it is default route and use the gateway address in all cases.
+                                if (dest == null) {
+                                    gatewayAddress = gateway;
+                                } else if (dest.getAddress() instanceof Inet4Address
                                         && dest.getPrefixLength() == 0 && gatewayAddress == null) {
                                     gatewayAddress = gateway;
                                 } else {