diff --git a/net/ipv4/tcp_input.c b/net/ipv4/tcp_input.c
index c701f6abbfc14a..5c16e24a6061ab 100644
--- a/net/ipv4/tcp_input.c
+++ b/net/ipv4/tcp_input.c
@@ -4420,9 +4420,11 @@ int tcp_rcv_state_process(struct sock *sk, struct sk_buff *skb,
 			 * But, this leaves one open to an easy denial of
 		 	 * service attack, and SYN cookies can't defend
 			 * against this problem. So, we drop the data
-			 * in the interest of security over speed.
+			 * in the interest of security over speed unless
+			 * it's still in use.
 			 */
-			goto discard;
+			kfree_skb(skb);
+			return 0;
 		}
 		goto discard;