diff --git a/drivers/net/ppp/ppp_async.c b/drivers/net/ppp/ppp_async.c
index ea7fe9608ffd..6e6e2b944128 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ppp/ppp_async.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ppp/ppp_async.c
@@ -742,11 +742,8 @@ process_input_packet(struct asyncppp *ap)
  err:
 	/* frame had an error, remember that, reset SC_TOSS & SC_ESCAPE */
 	ap->state = SC_PREV_ERROR;
-	if (skb) {
-		/* make skb appear as freshly allocated */
-		skb_trim(skb, 0);
-		skb_reserve(skb, - skb_headroom(skb));
-	}
+	kfree_skb(skb);
+	ap->rpkt = NULL;
 }
 
 /* Called when the tty driver has data for us. Runs parallel with the