diff --git a/drivers/net/r8169.c b/drivers/net/r8169.c
index b3473401c83a..352da2a43c9f 100644
--- a/drivers/net/r8169.c
+++ b/drivers/net/r8169.c
@@ -3363,13 +3363,6 @@ static int rtl8169_start_xmit(struct sk_buff *skb, struct net_device *dev)
 		opts1 |= FirstFrag;
 	} else {
 		len = skb->len;
-
-		if (unlikely(len < ETH_ZLEN)) {
-			if (skb_padto(skb, ETH_ZLEN))
-				goto err_update_stats;
-			len = ETH_ZLEN;
-		}
-
 		opts1 |= FirstFrag | LastFrag;
 		tp->tx_skb[entry].skb = skb;
 	}
@@ -3407,7 +3400,6 @@ static int rtl8169_start_xmit(struct sk_buff *skb, struct net_device *dev)
 err_stop:
 	netif_stop_queue(dev);
 	ret = NETDEV_TX_BUSY;
-err_update_stats:
 	dev->stats.tx_dropped++;
 	goto out;
 }