diff --git a/net/sched/sch_netem.c b/net/sched/sch_netem.c
index 7660aa5b80da..014a28d8dd4f 100644
--- a/net/sched/sch_netem.c
+++ b/net/sched/sch_netem.c
@@ -607,6 +607,8 @@ finish_segs:
 		}
 		/* Parent qdiscs accounted for 1 skb of size @prev_len */
 		qdisc_tree_reduce_backlog(sch, -(nb - 1), -(len - prev_len));
+	} else if (!skb) {
+		return NET_XMIT_DROP;
 	}
 	return NET_XMIT_SUCCESS;
 }