diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/google/gve/gve_rx_dqo.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/google/gve/gve_rx_dqo.c
index 8271f731a91f..0ece2f6fdffb 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/google/gve/gve_rx_dqo.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/google/gve/gve_rx_dqo.c
@@ -886,6 +886,11 @@ static int gve_rx_dqo(struct napi_struct *napi, struct gve_rx_ring *rx,
 		rx->rx_hsplit_unsplit_pkt += unsplit;
 		rx->rx_hsplit_bytes += hdr_len;
 		u64_stats_update_end(&rx->statss);
+
+		if (!buf_len) {
+			gve_free_buffer(rx, buf_state);
+			return 0;
+		}
 	} else if (!rx->ctx.skb_head && rx->dqo.page_pool &&
 		   netmem_is_net_iov(buf_state->page_info.netmem)) {
 		/* when header split is disabled, the header went to the packet