diff --git a/net/sched/sch_netem.c b/net/sched/sch_netem.c
index 5de1c932944a..20df1c08b1e9 100644
--- a/net/sched/sch_netem.c
+++ b/net/sched/sch_netem.c
@@ -519,8 +519,9 @@ static int netem_enqueue(struct sk_buff *skb, struct Qdisc *sch,
 			goto finish_segs;
 		}
 
-		skb->data[get_random_u32_below(skb_headlen(skb))] ^=
-			1<<get_random_u32_below(8);
+		if (skb_headlen(skb))
+			skb->data[get_random_u32_below(skb_headlen(skb))] ^=
+				1 << get_random_u32_below(8);
 	}
 
 	if (unlikely(q->t_len >= sch->limit)) {