diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/ibm/ibmvnic.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/ibm/ibmvnic.c
index 996f47568f9e3..1495cb99f9249 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/ibm/ibmvnic.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/ibm/ibmvnic.c
@@ -1901,6 +1901,11 @@ static int ibmvnic_poll(struct napi_struct *napi, int budget)
 			dev_kfree_skb_any(rx_buff->skb);
 			remove_buff_from_pool(adapter, rx_buff);
 			continue;
+		} else if (!rx_buff->skb) {
+			/* free the entry */
+			next->rx_comp.first = 0;
+			remove_buff_from_pool(adapter, rx_buff);
+			continue;
 		}
 
 		length = be32_to_cpu(next->rx_comp.len);