diff --git a/net/irda/irlap.c b/net/irda/irlap.c
index 7029618..a165286 100644
--- a/net/irda/irlap.c
+++ b/net/irda/irlap.c
@@ -884,7 +884,8 @@
 	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);
 	}
 }