diff --git a/sys/netgraph7/netgraph/ng_base.c b/sys/netgraph7/netgraph/ng_base.c
index 739d7d5..15e83ae 100644
--- a/sys/netgraph7/netgraph/ng_base.c
+++ b/sys/netgraph7/netgraph/ng_base.c
@@ -1977,6 +1977,7 @@ done:
 		if (refcount_release(&item->apply->refs)) {
 			(*item->apply->apply)(item->apply->context,
 			    item->apply->error);
+			item->apply = NULL;
 		}
 	}
 
@@ -2139,8 +2140,10 @@ ng_apply_item(node_p node, item_p item)
 	if (apply != NULL) {
 		if (depth == 1 && error != 0)
 			apply->error = error;
-		if (refcount_release(&apply->refs))
+		if (refcount_release(&apply->refs)) {
 			(*apply->apply)(apply->context, apply->error);
+			item->apply = NULL;
+		}
 	}
 
 	return (error);