diff --git a/sys/netlink/netlink_generic.c b/sys/netlink/netlink_generic.c
index 54fc702d8ac..b28b206a7ac 100644
--- a/sys/netlink/netlink_generic.c
+++ b/sys/netlink/netlink_generic.c
@@ -296,6 +296,7 @@ SYSINIT(genl_load_all, SI_SUB_PROTO_DOMAIN, SI_ORDER_THIRD, genl_load_all, NULL)
 static void
 genl_unload(void *u __unused)
 {
+	netlink_unregister_proto(NETLINK_GENERIC);
 	EVENTHANDLER_DEREGISTER(genl_family_event, family_event_tag);
 	genl_unregister_family(CTRL_FAMILY_NAME);
 	NET_EPOCH_WAIT();
diff --git a/sys/netlink/netlink_route.c b/sys/netlink/netlink_route.c
index 6da07492640..6b293f7ef19 100644
--- a/sys/netlink/netlink_route.c
+++ b/sys/netlink/netlink_route.c
@@ -134,6 +134,7 @@ static void
 rtnl_unload(void *u __unused)
 {
 	netlink_callback_p = nlbridge_orig_p;
+	netlink_unregister_proto(NETLINK_ROUTE);
 	rtnl_ifaces_destroy();
 	rtnl_neighs_destroy();