diff --git a/drivers/net/ieee802154/ca8210.c b/drivers/net/ieee802154/ca8210.c
index e1a569b99e4a6..0b0c6c0764fe9 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ieee802154/ca8210.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ieee802154/ca8210.c
@@ -1913,6 +1913,8 @@ static int ca8210_skb_tx(
 	 * packet
 	 */
 	mac_len = ieee802154_hdr_peek_addrs(skb, &header);
+	if (mac_len < 0)
+		return mac_len;
 
 	secspec.security_level = header.sec.level;
 	secspec.key_id_mode = header.sec.key_id_mode;