diff --git a/src/ip.cpp b/src/ip.cpp
index 1df5127..d600617 100644
--- a/src/ip.cpp
+++ b/src/ip.cpp
@@ -439,6 +439,9 @@ void IP::write_serialization(uint8_t* buffer, uint32_t total_sz, const PDU* pare
             protocol(new_flag);
         }
     }
+    else {
+        protocol(0);
+    }
 
     uint16_t original_frag_off = header_.frag_off;
     
diff --git a/tests/src/ip.cpp b/tests/src/ip.cpp
index 701688a..e2d6b8e 100644
--- a/tests/src/ip.cpp
+++ b/tests/src/ip.cpp
@@ -845,3 +845,13 @@ TEST_F(IPTest, SerializePacketHavingICMPExtensionsWithoutLengthAndShortPayload)
     ASSERT_EQ(1UL, serialized.rfind_pdu<ICMP>().extensions().extensions().size());
     EXPECT_EQ(ext_payload, serialized.rfind_pdu<ICMP>().extensions().extensions().begin()->payload());
 }
+
+TEST_F(IPTest, SerializeAfterInnerPduRemoved) {
+    EthernetII eth1 = EthernetII() / IP() / TCP();
+    eth1.serialize();
+    eth1.rfind_pdu<IP>().inner_pdu(0);
+
+    PDU::serialization_type buffer = eth1.serialize();
+    EthernetII eth2(&buffer[0], buffer.size());
+    EXPECT_EQ(eth1.size(), eth2.size());
+}