diff --git a/net/tipc/msg.c b/net/tipc/msg.c
index 76284fc538eb..b0bba0feef56 100644
--- a/net/tipc/msg.c
+++ b/net/tipc/msg.c
@@ -177,8 +177,20 @@ int tipc_buf_append(struct sk_buff **headbuf, struct sk_buff **buf)
 
 	if (fragid == LAST_FRAGMENT) {
 		TIPC_SKB_CB(head)->validated = 0;
-		if (unlikely(!tipc_msg_validate(&head)))
+
+		/* If the reassembled skb has been freed in
+		 * tipc_msg_validate() because of an invalid truesize,
+		 * then head will point to a newly allocated reassembled
+		 * skb, while *headbuf points to freed reassembled skb.
+		 * In such cases, correct *headbuf for freeing the newly
+		 * allocated reassembled skb later.
+		 */
+		if (unlikely(!tipc_msg_validate(&head))) {
+			if (head != *headbuf)
+				*headbuf = head;
 			goto err;
+		}
+
 		*buf = head;
 		TIPC_SKB_CB(head)->tail = NULL;
 		*headbuf = NULL;