diff --git a/libnetutil/netutil.cc b/libnetutil/netutil.cc
index be5ee8c61..fef42801c 100644
--- a/libnetutil/netutil.cc
+++ b/libnetutil/netutil.cc
@@ -3344,8 +3344,6 @@ static int route_dst_generic(const struct sockaddr_storage *dst,
 
     if (!sockaddr_equal(dst, &ifaces[i].addr))
       continue;
-    if (iface != NULL && strcmp(ifaces[i].devname, iface->devname) != 0)
-      continue;
 
     if (ifaces[i].device_type == devt_loopback)
       loopback = &ifaces[i];
@@ -3355,6 +3353,9 @@ static int route_dst_generic(const struct sockaddr_storage *dst,
       /* Hmmm ... no localhost -- move on to the routing table. */
       break;
 
+    if (iface != NULL && strcmp(loopback->devname, iface->devname) != 0)
+      continue;
+
     rnfo->ii = *loopback;
     rnfo->direct_connect = 1;
     /* But the source address we want to use is the target address. */