diff --git a/net/smc/smc_cdc.c b/net/smc/smc_cdc.c
index 94503f36b9a6..9125d28d9ff5 100644
--- a/net/smc/smc_cdc.c
+++ b/net/smc/smc_cdc.c
@@ -104,6 +104,9 @@ int smc_cdc_msg_send(struct smc_connection *conn,
 	union smc_host_cursor cfed;
 	int rc;
 
+	if (unlikely(!READ_ONCE(conn->sndbuf_desc)))
+		return -ENOBUFS;
+
 	smc_cdc_add_pending_send(conn, pend);
 
 	conn->tx_cdc_seq++;