diff --git a/net/packet/af_packet.c b/net/packet/af_packet.c
index 99fc628f7372..5bf1e968a728 100644
--- a/net/packet/af_packet.c
+++ b/net/packet/af_packet.c
@@ -698,6 +698,10 @@ static void prb_retire_rx_blk_timer_expired(unsigned long data)
 
 	if (pkc->last_kactive_blk_num == pkc->kactive_blk_num) {
 		if (!frozen) {
+			if (!BLOCK_NUM_PKTS(pbd)) {
+				/* An empty block. Just refresh the timer. */
+				goto refresh_timer;
+			}
 			prb_retire_current_block(pkc, po, TP_STATUS_BLK_TMO);
 			if (!prb_dispatch_next_block(pkc, po))
 				goto refresh_timer;
@@ -798,7 +802,11 @@ static void prb_close_block(struct tpacket_kbdq_core *pkc1,
 		h1->ts_last_pkt.ts_sec = last_pkt->tp_sec;
 		h1->ts_last_pkt.ts_nsec	= last_pkt->tp_nsec;
 	} else {
-		/* Ok, we tmo'd - so get the current time */
+		/* Ok, we tmo'd - so get the current time.
+		 *
+		 * It shouldn't really happen as we don't close empty
+		 * blocks. See prb_retire_rx_blk_timer_expired().
+		 */
 		struct timespec ts;
 		getnstimeofday(&ts);
 		h1->ts_last_pkt.ts_sec = ts.tv_sec;