diff --git a/net/tipc/netlink_compat.c b/net/tipc/netlink_compat.c
index 6494d6b5e1b2..fab0384d2b4b 100644
--- a/net/tipc/netlink_compat.c
+++ b/net/tipc/netlink_compat.c
@@ -983,6 +983,8 @@ static int tipc_nl_compat_publ_dump(struct tipc_nl_compat_msg *msg, u32 sock)
 
 	hdr = genlmsg_put(args, 0, 0, &tipc_genl_family, NLM_F_MULTI,
 			  TIPC_NL_PUBL_GET);
+	if (!hdr)
+		return -EMSGSIZE;
 
 	nest = nla_nest_start(args, TIPC_NLA_SOCK);
 	if (!nest) {