diff --git a/drivers/atm/atmtcp.c b/drivers/atm/atmtcp.c
index 96bea1ab1ecc..ff558908897f 100644
--- a/drivers/atm/atmtcp.c
+++ b/drivers/atm/atmtcp.c
@@ -288,7 +288,9 @@ static int atmtcp_c_send(struct atm_vcc *vcc,struct sk_buff *skb)
 	struct sk_buff *new_skb;
 	int result = 0;
 
-	if (!skb->len) return 0;
+	if (skb->len < sizeof(struct atmtcp_hdr))
+		goto done;
+
 	dev = vcc->dev_data;
 	hdr = (struct atmtcp_hdr *) skb->data;
 	if (hdr->length == ATMTCP_HDR_MAGIC) {