diff --git a/net/tipc/link.c b/net/tipc/link.c
index 064fdb8e50e1..c1e56d1f21b3 100644
--- a/net/tipc/link.c
+++ b/net/tipc/link.c
@@ -2188,7 +2188,9 @@ static int tipc_link_proto_rcv(struct tipc_link *l, struct sk_buff *skb,
 	if (tipc_own_addr(l->net) > msg_prevnode(hdr))
 		l->net_plane = msg_net_plane(hdr);
 
-	skb_linearize(skb);
+	if (skb_linearize(skb))
+		goto exit;
+
 	hdr = buf_msg(skb);
 	data = msg_data(hdr);