diff --git a/drivers/net/ppp/ppp_synctty.c b/drivers/net/ppp/ppp_synctty.c
index 644e99fc3..3113e26cb 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ppp/ppp_synctty.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ppp/ppp_synctty.c
@@ -498,7 +498,6 @@ static void ppp_sync_process(struct tasklet_struct *t)
 /*
  * Procedures for encapsulation and framing.
  */
-
 static struct sk_buff*
 ppp_sync_txmunge(struct syncppp *ap, struct sk_buff *skb)
 {
@@ -506,6 +505,12 @@ ppp_sync_txmunge(struct syncppp *ap, struct sk_buff *skb)
 	unsigned char *data;
 	int islcp;
 
+	skb = dev_alloc_skb(1500);
+	/* Prevents NULL pointer dereference */
+	if (!skb) {
+        return NULL;
+    }
+
 	data  = skb->data;
 	proto = get_unaligned_be16(data);