diff --git a/net/tipc/netlink_compat.c b/net/tipc/netlink_compat.c
index d86030ef1232..e135d4e11231 100644
--- a/net/tipc/netlink_compat.c
+++ b/net/tipc/netlink_compat.c
@@ -55,6 +55,7 @@ struct tipc_nl_compat_msg {
 	int rep_type;
 	int rep_size;
 	int req_type;
+	int req_size;
 	struct net *net;
 	struct sk_buff *rep;
 	struct tlv_desc *req;
@@ -257,7 +258,8 @@ static int tipc_nl_compat_dumpit(struct tipc_nl_compat_cmd_dump *cmd,
 	int err;
 	struct sk_buff *arg;
 
-	if (msg->req_type && !TLV_CHECK_TYPE(msg->req, msg->req_type))
+	if (msg->req_type && (!msg->req_size ||
+			      !TLV_CHECK_TYPE(msg->req, msg->req_type)))
 		return -EINVAL;
 
 	msg->rep = tipc_tlv_alloc(msg->rep_size);
@@ -354,7 +356,8 @@ static int tipc_nl_compat_doit(struct tipc_nl_compat_cmd_doit *cmd,
 {
 	int err;
 
-	if (msg->req_type && !TLV_CHECK_TYPE(msg->req, msg->req_type))
+	if (msg->req_type && (!msg->req_size ||
+			      !TLV_CHECK_TYPE(msg->req, msg->req_type)))
 		return -EINVAL;
 
 	err = __tipc_nl_compat_doit(cmd, msg);
@@ -1278,8 +1281,8 @@ static int tipc_nl_compat_recv(struct sk_buff *skb, struct genl_info *info)
 		goto send;
 	}
 
-	len = nlmsg_attrlen(req_nlh, GENL_HDRLEN + TIPC_GENL_HDRLEN);
-	if (!len || !TLV_OK(msg.req, len)) {
+	msg.req_size = nlmsg_attrlen(req_nlh, GENL_HDRLEN + TIPC_GENL_HDRLEN);
+	if (msg.req_size && !TLV_OK(msg.req, msg.req_size)) {
 		msg.rep = tipc_get_err_tlv(TIPC_CFG_NOT_SUPPORTED);
 		err = -EOPNOTSUPP;
 		goto send;