diff --git a/drivers/net/can/dev.c b/drivers/net/can/dev.c
index 910c12e..348dd50 100644
--- a/drivers/net/can/dev.c
+++ b/drivers/net/can/dev.c
@@ -798,6 +798,9 @@
 	 * - control mode with CAN_CTRLMODE_FD set
 	 */
 
+	if (!data)
+		return 0;
+
 	if (data[IFLA_CAN_CTRLMODE]) {
 		struct can_ctrlmode *cm = nla_data(data[IFLA_CAN_CTRLMODE]);