diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/apple/mace.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/apple/mace.c
index e58a7c73766e..ea6199425b67 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/apple/mace.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/apple/mace.c
@@ -843,7 +843,7 @@ static void mace_tx_timeout(unsigned long data)
     if (mp->tx_bad_runt) {
 	mp->tx_bad_runt = 0;
     } else if (i != mp->tx_fill) {
-	dev_kfree_skb(mp->tx_bufs[i]);
+	dev_kfree_skb_irq(mp->tx_bufs[i]);
 	if (++i >= N_TX_RING)
 	    i = 0;
 	mp->tx_empty = i;