diff --git a/src/decode-ipv6.c b/src/decode-ipv6.c
index b1eed491d0..e7619b5e2b 100644
--- a/src/decode-ipv6.c
+++ b/src/decode-ipv6.c
@@ -444,7 +444,7 @@ void DecodeIPV6(ThreadVars *tv, DecodeThreadVars *dtv, Packet *p, uint8_t *pkt,
 #endif /* DEBUG */
 
     /* now process the Ext headers and/or the L4 Layer */
-    switch(IPV6_GET_NH(p)) {
+    switch(p->proto = IPV6_GET_NH(p)) {
         case IPPROTO_TCP:
             IPV6_SET_L4PROTO (p, IPPROTO_TCP);
             return DecodeTCP(tv, dtv, p, pkt + IPV6_HEADER_LEN, IPV6_GET_PLEN(p), pq);