diff --git a/net/packet/af_packet.c b/net/packet/af_packet.c
index d08c4728523b..5cbe07116e04 100644
--- a/net/packet/af_packet.c
+++ b/net/packet/af_packet.c
@@ -3037,8 +3037,8 @@ static int packet_snd(struct socket *sock, struct msghdr *msg, size_t len)
 	if (err)
 		goto out_free;
 
-	if (sock->type == SOCK_RAW &&
-	    !dev_validate_header(dev, skb->data, len)) {
+	if ((sock->type == SOCK_RAW &&
+	     !dev_validate_header(dev, skb->data, len)) || !skb->len) {
 		err = -EINVAL;
 		goto out_free;
 	}