diff --git a/net/sched/sch_generic.c b/net/sched/sch_generic.c
index 137db1cbde85..ac28f6a5d70e 100644
--- a/net/sched/sch_generic.c
+++ b/net/sched/sch_generic.c
@@ -46,6 +46,8 @@ EXPORT_SYMBOL(default_qdisc_ops);
  * - updates to tree and tree walking are only done under the rtnl mutex.
  */
 
+#define SKB_XOFF_MAGIC ((struct sk_buff *)1UL)
+
 static inline struct sk_buff *__skb_dequeue_bad_txq(struct Qdisc *q)
 {
 	const struct netdev_queue *txq = q->dev_queue;
@@ -71,7 +73,7 @@ static inline struct sk_buff *__skb_dequeue_bad_txq(struct Qdisc *q)
 				q->q.qlen--;
 			}
 		} else {
-			skb = NULL;
+			skb = SKB_XOFF_MAGIC;
 		}
 	}
 
@@ -253,8 +255,11 @@ validate:
 		return skb;
 
 	skb = qdisc_dequeue_skb_bad_txq(q);
-	if (unlikely(skb))
+	if (unlikely(skb)) {
+		if (skb == SKB_XOFF_MAGIC)
+			return NULL;
 		goto bulk;
+	}
 	skb = q->dequeue(q);
 	if (skb) {
 bulk: