diff --git a/include/linux/net.h b/include/linux/net.h
index a42fab2..abcfa46 100644
--- a/include/linux/net.h
+++ b/include/linux/net.h
@@ -298,7 +298,7 @@
 int kernel_sock_ioctl(struct socket *sock, int cmd, unsigned long arg);
 int kernel_sock_shutdown(struct socket *sock, enum sock_shutdown_cmd how);
 
-/* Following routine returns the IP overhead imposed by a socket.  */
+/* Routine returns the IP overhead imposed by a (caller-protected) socket. */
 u32 kernel_sock_ip_overhead(struct sock *sk);
 
 #define MODULE_ALIAS_NETPROTO(proto) \
diff --git a/net/l2tp/l2tp_eth.c b/net/l2tp/l2tp_eth.c
index 138566a..b722d55 100644
--- a/net/l2tp/l2tp_eth.c
+++ b/net/l2tp/l2tp_eth.c
@@ -225,7 +225,9 @@
 		dev->needed_headroom += session->hdr_len;
 		return;
 	}
+	lock_sock(tunnel->sock);
 	l3_overhead = kernel_sock_ip_overhead(tunnel->sock);
+	release_sock(tunnel->sock);
 	if (l3_overhead == 0) {
 		/* L3 Overhead couldn't be identified, this could be
 		 * because tunnel->sock was NULL or the socket's
diff --git a/net/socket.c b/net/socket.c
index eea9970..c2564eb 100644
--- a/net/socket.c
+++ b/net/socket.c
@@ -3360,7 +3360,7 @@
 /* This routine returns the IP overhead imposed by a socket i.e.
  * the length of the underlying IP header, depending on whether
  * this is an IPv4 or IPv6 socket and the length from IP options turned
- * on at the socket.
+ * on at the socket. Assumes that the caller has a lock on the socket.
  */
 u32 kernel_sock_ip_overhead(struct sock *sk)
 {