diff --git a/net/irda/irlap.c b/net/irda/irlap.c
index 7029618f5719..a16528657b4c 100644
--- a/net/irda/irlap.c
+++ b/net/irda/irlap.c
@@ -884,7 +884,8 @@ static void irlap_change_speed(struct irlap_cb *self, __u32 speed, int now)
 	if (now) {
 		/* Send down empty frame to trigger speed change */
 		skb = dev_alloc_skb(0);
-		irlap_queue_xmit(self, skb);
+		if (skb)
+			irlap_queue_xmit(self, skb);
 	}
 }