diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/broadcom/bnxt/bnxt.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/broadcom/bnxt/bnxt.c
index 9c2cc50276a5..d59bcca73a2b 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/broadcom/bnxt/bnxt.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/broadcom/bnxt/bnxt.c
@@ -502,11 +502,8 @@ static netdev_tx_t bnxt_start_xmit(struct sk_buff *skb, struct net_device *dev)
 	if (skb_shinfo(skb)->nr_frags > TX_MAX_FRAGS) {
 		netdev_warn_once(dev, "SKB has too many (%d) fragments, max supported is %d.  SKB will be linearized.\n",
 				 skb_shinfo(skb)->nr_frags, TX_MAX_FRAGS);
-		if (skb_linearize(skb)) {
-			dev_kfree_skb_any(skb);
-			dev_core_stats_tx_dropped_inc(dev);
-			return NETDEV_TX_OK;
-		}
+		if (skb_linearize(skb))
+			goto tx_free;
 	}
 #endif
 	if (skb_is_gso(skb) &&