diff --git a/net/tipc/socket.c b/net/tipc/socket.c
index c49b8df438cbee..f9f5f3c3dab530 100644
--- a/net/tipc/socket.c
+++ b/net/tipc/socket.c
@@ -2180,7 +2180,8 @@ static int tipc_shutdown(struct socket *sock, int how)
 					      TIPC_CONN_MSG, SHORT_H_SIZE,
 					      0, dnode, onode, dport, oport,
 					      TIPC_CONN_SHUTDOWN);
-			tipc_node_xmit_skb(net, skb, dnode, tsk->portid);
+			if (skb)
+				tipc_node_xmit_skb(net, skb, dnode, tsk->portid);
 		}
 		tsk->connected = 0;
 		sock->state = SS_DISCONNECTING;