diff --git a/sys/net/if_ethersubr.c b/sys/net/if_ethersubr.c
index 18429303b10a..862d25948692 100644
--- a/sys/net/if_ethersubr.c
+++ b/sys/net/if_ethersubr.c
@@ -499,7 +499,6 @@ ether_input_internal(struct ifnet *ifp, struct mbuf *m)
 			if_printf(ifp, "cannot pullup VLAN header\n");
 #endif
 			if_inc_counter(ifp, IFCOUNTER_IERRORS, 1);
-			m_freem(m);
 			CURVNET_RESTORE();
 			return;
 		}