diff --git a/net/core/rtnetlink.c b/net/core/rtnetlink.c
index e652e376fb30..93de31ca3d65 100644
--- a/net/core/rtnetlink.c
+++ b/net/core/rtnetlink.c
@@ -3530,8 +3530,10 @@ static int rtnl_bridge_notify(struct net_device *dev)
 	if (err < 0)
 		goto errout;
 
-	if (!skb->len)
+	if (!skb->len) {
+		err = -EINVAL;
 		goto errout;
+	}
 
 	rtnl_notify(skb, net, 0, RTNLGRP_LINK, NULL, GFP_ATOMIC);
 	return 0;