diff --git a/net/packet/af_packet.c b/net/packet/af_packet.c
index 9b6f6a5e0b14..2e766490a739 100644
--- a/net/packet/af_packet.c
+++ b/net/packet/af_packet.c
@@ -1996,7 +1996,7 @@ retry:
 		goto retry;
 	}
 
-	if (!dev_validate_header(dev, skb->data, len)) {
+	if (!dev_validate_header(dev, skb->data, len) || !skb->len) {
 		err = -EINVAL;
 		goto out_unlock;
 	}