diff --git a/drivers/net/can/dev.c b/drivers/net/can/dev.c
index 84ad2b44377c2..0c5c745cda4cc 100644
--- a/drivers/net/can/dev.c
+++ b/drivers/net/can/dev.c
@@ -665,6 +665,9 @@ static int can_changelink(struct net_device *dev,
 		}
 	}
 
+	if (!data)
+		return 0;
+
 	if (data[IFLA_CAN_CTRLMODE]) {
 		struct can_ctrlmode *cm;