diff --git a/net/vmw_vsock/hyperv_transport.c b/net/vmw_vsock/hyperv_transport.c
index 19189cf30a72..e111e13b6660 100644
--- a/net/vmw_vsock/hyperv_transport.c
+++ b/net/vmw_vsock/hyperv_transport.c
@@ -225,14 +225,20 @@ static size_t hvs_channel_writable_bytes(struct vmbus_channel *chan)
 	return round_down(ret, 8);
 }
 
+static int __hvs_send_data(struct vmbus_channel *chan,
+			   struct vmpipe_proto_header *hdr,
+			   size_t to_write)
+{
+	hdr->pkt_type = 1;
+	hdr->data_size = to_write;
+	return vmbus_sendpacket(chan, hdr, sizeof(*hdr) + to_write,
+				0, VM_PKT_DATA_INBAND, 0);
+}
+
 static int hvs_send_data(struct vmbus_channel *chan,
 			 struct hvs_send_buf *send_buf, size_t to_write)
 {
-	send_buf->hdr.pkt_type = 1;
-	send_buf->hdr.data_size = to_write;
-	return vmbus_sendpacket(chan, &send_buf->hdr,
-				sizeof(send_buf->hdr) + to_write,
-				0, VM_PKT_DATA_INBAND, 0);
+	return __hvs_send_data(chan, &send_buf->hdr, to_write);
 }
 
 static void hvs_channel_cb(void *ctx)
@@ -468,7 +474,7 @@ static void hvs_shutdown_lock_held(struct hvsock *hvs, int mode)
 		return;
 
 	/* It can't fail: see hvs_channel_writable_bytes(). */
-	(void)hvs_send_data(hvs->chan, (struct hvs_send_buf *)&hdr, 0);
+	(void)__hvs_send_data(hvs->chan, &hdr, 0);
 	hvs->fin_sent = true;
 }