diff --git a/net/core/ethtool.c b/net/core/ethtool.c
index a1280f6..fbbe4b4 100644
--- a/net/core/ethtool.c
+++ b/net/core/ethtool.c
@@ -283,18 +283,17 @@
 	return ret;
 }
 
-static int __rx_ntuple_filter_add(struct ethtool_rx_ntuple_list *list,
-                                  struct ethtool_rx_ntuple_flow_spec *spec)
+static void __rx_ntuple_filter_add(struct ethtool_rx_ntuple_list *list,
+                              struct ethtool_rx_ntuple_flow_spec *spec,
+                              struct ethtool_rx_ntuple_flow_spec_container *fsc)
 {
-	struct ethtool_rx_ntuple_flow_spec_container *fsc;
 
 	/* don't add filters forever */
-	if (list->count >= ETHTOOL_MAX_NTUPLE_LIST_ENTRY)
-		return 0;
-
-	fsc = kmalloc(sizeof(*fsc), GFP_ATOMIC);
-	if (!fsc)
-		return -ENOMEM;
+	if (list->count >= ETHTOOL_MAX_NTUPLE_LIST_ENTRY) {
+		/* free the container */
+		kfree(fsc);
+		return;
+	}
 
 	/* Copy the whole filter over */
 	fsc->fs.flow_type = spec->flow_type;
@@ -310,14 +309,13 @@
 	/* add to the list */
 	list_add_tail_rcu(&fsc->list, &list->list);
 	list->count++;
-
-	return 0;
 }
 
 static int ethtool_set_rx_ntuple(struct net_device *dev, void __user *useraddr)
 {
 	struct ethtool_rx_ntuple cmd;
 	const struct ethtool_ops *ops = dev->ethtool_ops;
+	struct ethtool_rx_ntuple_flow_spec_container *fsc = NULL;
 	int ret;
 
 	if (!ops->set_rx_ntuple)
@@ -329,16 +327,26 @@
 	if (copy_from_user(&cmd, useraddr, sizeof(cmd)))
 		return -EFAULT;
 
-	ret = ops->set_rx_ntuple(dev, &cmd);
-
 	/*
 	 * Cache filter in dev struct for GET operation only if
 	 * the underlying driver doesn't have its own GET operation, and
-	 * only if the filter was added successfully.
+	 * only if the filter was added successfully.  First make sure we
+	 * can allocate the filter, then continue if successful.
 	 */
-	if (!ops->get_rx_ntuple && !ret)
-		if (__rx_ntuple_filter_add(&dev->ethtool_ntuple_list, &cmd.fs))
+	if (!ops->get_rx_ntuple) {
+		fsc = kmalloc(sizeof(*fsc), GFP_ATOMIC);
+		if (!fsc)
 			return -ENOMEM;
+	}
+
+	ret = ops->set_rx_ntuple(dev, &cmd);
+	if (ret) {
+		kfree(fsc);
+		return ret;
+	}
+
+	if (!ops->get_rx_ntuple)
+		__rx_ntuple_filter_add(&dev->ethtool_ntuple_list, &cmd.fs, fsc);
 
 	return ret;
 }