diff --git a/mt7921/mcu.c b/mt7921/mcu.c
index 564dd836..17d97407 100644
--- a/mt7921/mcu.c
+++ b/mt7921/mcu.c
@@ -351,8 +351,10 @@ void mt7921_mcu_rx_event(struct mt792x_dev *dev, struct sk_buff *skb)
 {
 	struct mt76_connac2_mcu_rxd *rxd;
 
-	if (skb_linearize(skb))
+	if (skb_linearize(skb)) {
+		dev_kfree_skb(skb);
 		return;
+	}
 
 	rxd = (struct mt76_connac2_mcu_rxd *)skb->data;