diff --git a/drivers/staging/batman-adv/device.c b/drivers/staging/batman-adv/device.c
index ad82ec4a4856..7eb6559e0315 100644
--- a/drivers/staging/batman-adv/device.c
+++ b/drivers/staging/batman-adv/device.c
@@ -309,7 +309,7 @@ void bat_device_add_packet(struct device_client *device_client,
 	struct device_packet *device_packet;
 	unsigned long flags;
 
-	device_packet = kmalloc(sizeof(struct device_packet), GFP_KERNEL);
+	device_packet = kmalloc(sizeof(struct device_packet), GFP_ATOMIC);
 
 	if (!device_packet)
 		return;