diff --git a/net/sched/ematch.c b/net/sched/ematch.c
index 8f2ad706784d..d0140a92694a 100644
--- a/net/sched/ematch.c
+++ b/net/sched/ematch.c
@@ -263,12 +263,12 @@ static int tcf_em_validate(struct tcf_proto *tp,
 				}
 				em->data = (unsigned long) v;
 			}
+			em->datalen = data_len;
 		}
 	}
 
 	em->matchid = em_hdr->matchid;
 	em->flags = em_hdr->flags;
-	em->datalen = data_len;
 	em->net = net;
 
 	err = 0;