diff --git a/drivers/net/usb/lan78xx.c b/drivers/net/usb/lan78xx.c
index f940dc6485e5..fb4781080d6d 100644
--- a/drivers/net/usb/lan78xx.c
+++ b/drivers/net/usb/lan78xx.c
@@ -2724,11 +2724,6 @@ static int lan78xx_stop(struct net_device *net)
 	return 0;
 }
 
-static int lan78xx_linearize(struct sk_buff *skb)
-{
-	return skb_linearize(skb);
-}
-
 static struct sk_buff *lan78xx_tx_prep(struct lan78xx_net *dev,
 				       struct sk_buff *skb, gfp_t flags)
 {
@@ -2740,8 +2735,10 @@ static struct sk_buff *lan78xx_tx_prep(struct lan78xx_net *dev,
 		return NULL;
 	}
 
-	if (lan78xx_linearize(skb) < 0)
+	if (skb_linearize(skb)) {
+		dev_kfree_skb_any(skb);
 		return NULL;
+	}
 
 	tx_cmd_a = (u32)(skb->len & TX_CMD_A_LEN_MASK_) | TX_CMD_A_FCS_;