diff --git a/net/core/pktgen.c b/net/core/pktgen.c
index 2953b2abc97..18fe20dacc6 100644
--- a/net/core/pktgen.c
+++ b/net/core/pktgen.c
@@ -2660,6 +2660,7 @@ static struct sk_buff *fill_packet_ipv4(struct net_device *odev,
 		sprintf(pkt_dev->result, "No memory");
 		return NULL;
 	}
+	prefetchw(skb->data);
 
 	skb_reserve(skb, datalen);
 
@@ -3007,6 +3008,7 @@ static struct sk_buff *fill_packet_ipv6(struct net_device *odev,
 		sprintf(pkt_dev->result, "No memory");
 		return NULL;
 	}
+	prefetchw(skb->data);
 
 	skb_reserve(skb, 16);