diff --git a/drivers/net/can/sun4i_can.c b/drivers/net/can/sun4i_can.c
index 360158c295d3..17f94cca93fb 100644
--- a/drivers/net/can/sun4i_can.c
+++ b/drivers/net/can/sun4i_can.c
@@ -629,10 +629,10 @@ static int sun4i_can_err(struct net_device *dev, u8 isrc, u8 status)
 		tx_state = txerr >= rxerr ? state : 0;
 		rx_state = txerr <= rxerr ? state : 0;
 
-		if (likely(skb))
-			can_change_state(dev, cf, tx_state, rx_state);
-		else
-			priv->can.state = state;
+		/* The skb allocation might fail, but can_change_state()
+		 * handles cf == NULL.
+		 */
+		can_change_state(dev, cf, tx_state, rx_state);
 		if (state == CAN_STATE_BUS_OFF)
 			can_bus_off(dev);
 	}