diff --git a/net/tipc/node.c b/net/tipc/node.c
index 2dc4919ab23c..dd3b6dc17662 100644
--- a/net/tipc/node.c
+++ b/net/tipc/node.c
@@ -817,10 +817,10 @@ static void __tipc_node_link_down(struct tipc_node *n, int *bearer_id,
 static void tipc_node_link_down(struct tipc_node *n, int bearer_id, bool delete)
 {
 	struct tipc_link_entry *le = &n->links[bearer_id];
+	struct tipc_media_addr *maddr = NULL;
 	struct tipc_link *l = le->link;
-	struct tipc_media_addr *maddr;
-	struct sk_buff_head xmitq;
 	int old_bearer_id = bearer_id;
+	struct sk_buff_head xmitq;
 
 	if (!l)
 		return;
@@ -844,7 +844,8 @@ static void tipc_node_link_down(struct tipc_node *n, int bearer_id, bool delete)
 	tipc_node_write_unlock(n);
 	if (delete)
 		tipc_mon_remove_peer(n->net, n->addr, old_bearer_id);
-	tipc_bearer_xmit(n->net, bearer_id, &xmitq, maddr);
+	if (!skb_queue_empty(&xmitq))
+		tipc_bearer_xmit(n->net, bearer_id, &xmitq, maddr);
 	tipc_sk_rcv(n->net, &le->inputq);
 }