diff --git a/drivers/net/gianfar.c b/drivers/net/gianfar.c
index 9d81e7a48dba..a7a67376615b 100644
--- a/drivers/net/gianfar.c
+++ b/drivers/net/gianfar.c
@@ -1239,19 +1239,9 @@ static int gfar_enet_open(struct net_device *dev)
 	return err;
 }
 
-static inline struct txfcb *gfar_add_fcb(struct sk_buff **skbp)
+static inline struct txfcb *gfar_add_fcb(struct sk_buff *skb)
 {
-	struct txfcb *fcb;
-	struct sk_buff *skb = *skbp;
-
-	if (unlikely(skb_headroom(skb) < GMAC_FCB_LEN)) {
-		struct sk_buff *old_skb = skb;
-		skb = skb_realloc_headroom(old_skb, GMAC_FCB_LEN);
-		if (!skb)
-			return NULL;
-		dev_kfree_skb_any(old_skb);
-	}
-	fcb = (struct txfcb *)skb_push(skb, GMAC_FCB_LEN);
+	struct txfcb *fcb = (struct txfcb *)skb_push(skb, GMAC_FCB_LEN);
 	cacheable_memzero(fcb, GMAC_FCB_LEN);
 
 	return fcb;
@@ -1320,6 +1310,20 @@ static int gfar_start_xmit(struct sk_buff *skb, struct net_device *dev)
 
 	base = priv->tx_bd_base;
 
+	/* make space for additional header */
+	if (skb_headroom(skb) < GMAC_FCB_LEN) {
+		struct sk_buff *skb_new;
+
+		skb_new = skb_realloc_headroom(skb, GMAC_FCB_LEN);
+		if (!skb_new) {
+			dev->stats.tx_errors++;
+			kfree(skb);
+			return NETDEV_TX_OK;
+		}
+		kfree_skb(skb);
+		skb = skb_new;
+	}
+
 	/* total number of fragments in the SKB */
 	nr_frags = skb_shinfo(skb)->nr_frags;
 
@@ -1372,20 +1376,18 @@ static int gfar_start_xmit(struct sk_buff *skb, struct net_device *dev)
 
 	/* Set up checksumming */
 	if (CHECKSUM_PARTIAL == skb->ip_summed) {
-		fcb = gfar_add_fcb(&skb);
-		if (likely(fcb != NULL)) {
-			lstatus |= BD_LFLAG(TXBD_TOE);
-			gfar_tx_checksum(skb, fcb);
-		}
+		fcb = gfar_add_fcb(skb);
+		lstatus |= BD_LFLAG(TXBD_TOE);
+		gfar_tx_checksum(skb, fcb);
 	}
 
 	if (priv->vlgrp && vlan_tx_tag_present(skb)) {
-		if (unlikely(NULL == fcb))
-			fcb = gfar_add_fcb(&skb);
-		if (likely(fcb != NULL)) {
+		if (unlikely(NULL == fcb)) {
+			fcb = gfar_add_fcb(skb);
 			lstatus |= BD_LFLAG(TXBD_TOE);
-			gfar_tx_vlan(skb, fcb);
 		}
+
+		gfar_tx_vlan(skb, fcb);
 	}
 
 	/* setup the TxBD length and buffer pointer for the first BD */
@@ -1433,7 +1435,7 @@ static int gfar_start_xmit(struct sk_buff *skb, struct net_device *dev)
 	/* Unlock priv */
 	spin_unlock_irqrestore(&priv->txlock, flags);
 
-	return 0;
+	return NETDEV_TX_OK;
 }
 
 /* Stops the kernel queue, and halts the controller */