diff --git a/net/batman-adv/fragmentation.c b/net/batman-adv/fragmentation.c
index 384a1014da07..f3ad92b06247 100644
--- a/net/batman-adv/fragmentation.c
+++ b/net/batman-adv/fragmentation.c
@@ -490,6 +490,12 @@ int batadv_frag_send_packet(struct sk_buff *skb,
 
 	/* Eat and send fragments from the tail of skb */
 	while (skb->len > max_fragment_size) {
+		/* The initial check in this function should cover this case */
+		if (frag_header.no == BATADV_FRAG_MAX_FRAGMENTS - 1) {
+			ret = -1;
+			goto out;
+		}
+
 		skb_fragment = batadv_frag_create(skb, &frag_header, mtu);
 		if (!skb_fragment)
 			goto out;
@@ -507,12 +513,6 @@ int batadv_frag_send_packet(struct sk_buff *skb,
 		}
 
 		frag_header.no++;
-
-		/* The initial check in this function should cover this case */
-		if (frag_header.no == BATADV_FRAG_MAX_FRAGMENTS - 1) {
-			ret = -1;
-			goto out;
-		}
 	}
 
 	/* Make room for the fragment header. */