diff --git a/net/tipc/netlink_compat.c b/net/tipc/netlink_compat.c
index c763008a8adb..079aebb16ed8 100644
--- a/net/tipc/netlink_compat.c
+++ b/net/tipc/netlink_compat.c
@@ -168,7 +168,7 @@ static struct sk_buff *tipc_get_err_tlv(char *str)
 	int str_len = strlen(str) + 1;
 	struct sk_buff *buf;
 
-	buf = tipc_tlv_alloc(TLV_SPACE(str_len));
+	buf = tipc_tlv_alloc(str_len);
 	if (buf)
 		tipc_add_tlv(buf, TIPC_TLV_ERROR_STRING, str, str_len);