diff --git a/net/batman-adv/fragmentation.c b/net/batman-adv/fragmentation.c
index 8a006a0473a8..13d4689d332d 100644
--- a/net/batman-adv/fragmentation.c
+++ b/net/batman-adv/fragmentation.c
@@ -518,8 +518,10 @@ int batadv_frag_send_packet(struct sk_buff *skb,
 	mtu = min_t(unsigned int, mtu, BATADV_FRAG_MAX_FRAG_SIZE);
 	max_fragment_size = mtu - header_size;
 
-	if (skb->len == 0 || max_fragment_size == 0)
-		return -EINVAL;
+	if (skb->len == 0 || max_fragment_size == 0) {
+		ret = -EINVAL;
+		goto free_skb;
+	}
 
 	num_fragments = (skb->len - 1) / max_fragment_size + 1;
 	max_fragment_size = (skb->len - 1) / num_fragments + 1;