diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/broadcom/genet/bcmgenet.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/broadcom/genet/bcmgenet.c
index c63f01e2bb03..af924a8b885f 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/broadcom/genet/bcmgenet.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/broadcom/genet/bcmgenet.c
@@ -2042,11 +2042,6 @@ static netdev_tx_t bcmgenet_xmit(struct sk_buff *skb, struct net_device *dev)
 		goto out;
 	}
 
-	if (skb_padto(skb, ETH_ZLEN)) {
-		ret = NETDEV_TX_OK;
-		goto out;
-	}
-
 	/* Retain how many bytes will be sent on the wire, without TSB inserted
 	 * by transmit checksum offload
 	 */
@@ -2093,6 +2088,9 @@ static netdev_tx_t bcmgenet_xmit(struct sk_buff *skb, struct net_device *dev)
 		len_stat = (size << DMA_BUFLENGTH_SHIFT) |
 			   (priv->hw_params->qtag_mask << DMA_TX_QTAG_SHIFT);
 
+		/* Note: if we ever change from DMA_TX_APPEND_CRC below we
+		 * will need to restore software padding of "runt" packets
+		 */
 		if (!i) {
 			len_stat |= DMA_TX_APPEND_CRC | DMA_SOP;
 			if (skb->ip_summed == CHECKSUM_PARTIAL)