diff --git a/net/irda/irnetlink.c b/net/irda/irnetlink.c
index 9e1fb82e3220..2f05ec1037ab 100644
--- a/net/irda/irnetlink.c
+++ b/net/irda/irnetlink.c
@@ -101,8 +101,8 @@ static int irda_nl_get_mode(struct sk_buff *skb, struct genl_info *info)
 
 	hdr = genlmsg_put(msg, info->snd_pid, info->snd_seq,
 			  &irda_nl_family, 0,  IRDA_NL_CMD_GET_MODE);
-	if (IS_ERR(hdr)) {
-		ret = PTR_ERR(hdr);
+	if (hdr == NULL) {
+		ret = -EMSGSIZE;
 		goto err_out;
 	}