diff --git a/drivers/net/can/dev.c b/drivers/net/can/dev.c
index fa78e45a2beeb..de333c740203d 100644
--- a/drivers/net/can/dev.c
+++ b/drivers/net/can/dev.c
@@ -665,9 +665,6 @@ static int can_changelink(struct net_device *dev,
 		}
 	}
 
-	if (!data)
-		return 0;
-
 	if (data[IFLA_CAN_CTRLMODE]) {
 		struct can_ctrlmode *cm;