diff --git a/src/ca/if_depen.c b/src/ca/if_depen.c
index da4023af7..12a70571c 100644
--- a/src/ca/if_depen.c
+++ b/src/ca/if_depen.c
@@ -43,7 +43,6 @@ static char	*sccsId = "@(#) $Id$";
  * also called by the server. All locks required are applied at
  * a higher level.
  */
-#define DEBUG
 #ifdef DEBUG
 #   define ifDepenDebugPrintf(argsInParen) printf argsInParen
 #else
@@ -198,6 +197,13 @@ epicsShareFunc void epicsShareAPI caDiscoverInterfaces
             continue;
         }
 
+        status = socket_ioctl (socket, SIOCGIFADDR, pifreq);
+        if ( status ) {
+            errlogPrintf ("osiSockDiscoverInterfaces(): net intf \"%s\": if addr fetch fail\n", pifreq->ifr_name);
+            free ( pNewNode );
+            continue;
+        }
+
         pNewNode->srcAddr.sa = pifreq->ifr_addr;
 
         if ( pNewNode->destAddr.sa.sa_family == AF_INET ) {