diff --git a/p2p/enode/node.go b/p2p/enode/node.go
index cb35842088..b85b8e97b7 100644
--- a/p2p/enode/node.go
+++ b/p2p/enode/node.go
@@ -99,6 +99,7 @@ func (n *Node) Load(k enr.Entry) error {
 	return n.r.Load(k)
 }
 
+// IP returns the IP address of the node. This prefers IPv4 addresses.
 // IP returns the IP address of the node. This prefers IPv4 addresses.
 func (n *Node) IP() net.IP {
 	var (
@@ -114,13 +115,15 @@ func (n *Node) IP() net.IP {
 	if n.Load(&ip6) == nil {
 		return net.IP(ip6)
 	}
-	if ipv4Addr := net.IP(ip4); ipv4Addr.IsLoopback() {
-		return ipv4Addr
+	if n.Load(&ip4) == nil {
+		ipv4Addr := net.IP(ip4)
+		if ipv4Addr.IsLoopback() {
+			return ipv4Addr
+		}
 	}
 	return nil
 }
 
-
 // UDP returns the UDP port of the node.
 func (n *Node) UDP() int {
 	var port enr.UDP