diff --git a/net/batman-adv/multicast_forw.c b/net/batman-adv/multicast_forw.c
index 3927d28dcbb8..ac97cd8b81dc 100644
--- a/net/batman-adv/multicast_forw.c
+++ b/net/batman-adv/multicast_forw.c
@@ -1108,6 +1108,10 @@ static int batadv_mcast_forw_expand_head(struct batadv_priv *bat_priv,
 	if (skb_cow(skb, hdr_size) < 0)
 		return -ENOMEM;
 
+	/* batadv_mcast_forw_scrape() + batadv_mcast_forw_packet() require linearized skb */
+	if (skb_linearize(skb) < 0)
+		return -ENOMEM;
+
 	return 0;
 }