diff --git a/sys/net/network_layer/ng_sixlowpan/ng_sixlowpan.c b/sys/net/network_layer/ng_sixlowpan/ng_sixlowpan.c
index 5e244c8126..0b284610bd 100644
--- a/sys/net/network_layer/ng_sixlowpan/ng_sixlowpan.c
+++ b/sys/net/network_layer/ng_sixlowpan/ng_sixlowpan.c
@@ -59,6 +59,21 @@ void _receive(ng_pktsnip_t *pkt)
     uint8_t *dispatch;
     ng_netreg_entry_t *entry;
 
+    /* seize payload as a temporary variable */
+    payload = ng_pktbuf_start_write(pkt);   /* need to duplicate since pkt->next
+                                             * might get replaced */
+
+    if (payload == NULL) {
+        DEBUG("6lo: can not get write access on received packet\n");
+#if defined(DEVELHELP) && defined(ENABLE_DEBUG)
+        ng_pktbuf_stats();
+#endif
+        ng_pktbuf_release(pkt);
+        return;
+    }
+
+    pkt = payload;  /* reset pkt from temporary variable */
+
     LL_SEARCH_SCALAR(pkt, payload, type, NG_NETTYPE_SIXLOWPAN);
 
     if ((payload == NULL) || (payload->size < 1)) {