diff --git a/src/network/networkd-address.c b/src/network/networkd-address.c
index 107f19fd15..eae374323e 100644
--- a/src/network/networkd-address.c
+++ b/src/network/networkd-address.c
@@ -462,14 +462,9 @@ static int address_add(Link *link, Address *address) {
 }
 
 static int address_update(Address *address) {
-        Link *link;
+        Link *link = ASSERT_PTR(ASSERT_PTR(address)->link);
         int r;
 
-        assert(address);
-        assert(address->link);
-
-        link = address->link;
-
         if (address_is_ready(address) &&
             address->family == AF_INET6 &&
             in6_addr_is_link_local(&address->in_addr.in6) &&
@@ -485,7 +480,7 @@ static int address_update(Address *address) {
         if (IN_SET(link->state, LINK_STATE_FAILED, LINK_STATE_LINGER))
                 return 0;
 
-        r = address_set_masquerade(address, true);
+        r = address_set_masquerade(address, /* add = */ true);
         if (r < 0)
                 return log_link_warning_errno(link, r, "Could not enable IP masquerading: %m");
 
@@ -497,23 +492,16 @@ static int address_update(Address *address) {
                         return r;
         }
 
-        link_update_operstate(link, true);
+        link_update_operstate(link, /* also_update_master = */ true);
         link_check_ready(link);
         return 0;
 }
 
 static int address_drop(Address *address) {
-        Link *link;
-        bool ready;
+        Link *link = ASSERT_PTR(ASSERT_PTR(address)->link);
         int r;
 
-        assert(address);
-        assert(address->link);
-
-        ready = address_is_ready(address);
-        link = address->link;
-
-        r = address_set_masquerade(address, false);
+        r = address_set_masquerade(address, /* add = */ false);
         if (r < 0)
                 log_link_warning_errno(link, r, "Failed to disable IP masquerading, ignoring: %m");
 
@@ -522,11 +510,8 @@ static int address_drop(Address *address) {
         if (address->state == 0)
                 address_free(address);
 
-        link_update_operstate(link, true);
-
-        if (link && !ready)
-                link_check_ready(link);
-
+        link_update_operstate(link, /* also_update_master = */ true);
+        link_check_ready(link);
         return 0;
 }
 
diff --git a/src/network/networkd-util.h b/src/network/networkd-util.h
index e8c390196e..31ff4bc425 100644
--- a/src/network/networkd-util.h
+++ b/src/network/networkd-util.h
@@ -91,6 +91,7 @@ int network_config_state_to_string_alloc(NetworkConfigState s, char **ret);
                                     0);                                 \
         }                                                               \
         static inline bool name##_is_requesting(type *t) {              \
+                assert(t);                                              \
                 return FLAGS_SET(t->state, NETWORK_CONFIG_STATE_REQUESTING); \
         }                                                               \
         static inline void name##_enter_configuring(type *t) {          \