diff --git a/package/base-files/Makefile b/package/base-files/Makefile
index b148bdf33f..4326c972ed 100644
--- a/package/base-files/Makefile
+++ b/package/base-files/Makefile
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ include $(TOPDIR)/rules.mk
 include $(INCLUDE_DIR)/kernel.mk
 
 PKG_NAME:=base-files
-PKG_RELEASE:=17
+PKG_RELEASE:=18
 
 PKG_FILE_DEPEND:=$(PLATFORM_DIR)/ $(GENERIC_PLATFORM_DIR)/base-files/
 
diff --git a/package/base-files/files/etc/hotplug.d/iface/10-routes b/package/base-files/files/etc/hotplug.d/iface/10-routes
index 0eb92870fc..f871ca5288 100644
--- a/package/base-files/files/etc/hotplug.d/iface/10-routes
+++ b/package/base-files/files/etc/hotplug.d/iface/10-routes
@@ -23,7 +23,6 @@ add_route() {
 		config_get gateway "$interface" gateway
 	}
 
-	netmask="${netmask:-255.255.255.255}"
 	dest="${netmask:+-net "$target" netmask "$netmask"}"
 	dest="${dest:--host "$target"}"