diff --git a/drivers/net/hamradio/bpqether.c b/drivers/net/hamradio/bpqether.c
index ae5f11c..bdadf3e 100644
--- a/drivers/net/hamradio/bpqether.c
+++ b/drivers/net/hamradio/bpqether.c
@@ -248,6 +248,7 @@
 {
 	unsigned char *ptr;
 	struct bpqdev *bpq;
+	struct net_device *orig_dev;
 	int size;
 
 	/*
@@ -282,8 +283,9 @@
 
 	bpq = netdev_priv(dev);
 
+	orig_dev = dev;
 	if ((dev = bpq_get_ether_dev(dev)) == NULL) {
-		dev->stats.tx_dropped++;
+		orig_dev->stats.tx_dropped++;
 		kfree_skb(skb);
 		return NETDEV_TX_OK;
 	}