diff --git a/net/batman-adv/bridge_loop_avoidance.c b/net/batman-adv/bridge_loop_avoidance.c
index 082189e2e40d..7354063567bd 100644
--- a/net/batman-adv/bridge_loop_avoidance.c
+++ b/net/batman-adv/bridge_loop_avoidance.c
@@ -180,7 +180,7 @@ static struct batadv_bla_claim
  */
 static struct batadv_bla_backbone_gw *
 batadv_backbone_hash_find(struct batadv_priv *bat_priv,
-			  uint8_t *addr, short vid)
+			  uint8_t *addr, unsigned short vid)
 {
 	struct batadv_hashtable *hash = bat_priv->bla.backbone_hash;
 	struct hlist_head *head;
@@ -257,7 +257,7 @@ batadv_bla_del_backbone_claims(struct batadv_bla_backbone_gw *backbone_gw)
  * @claimtype: the type of the claim (CLAIM, UNCLAIM, ANNOUNCE, ...)
  */
 static void batadv_bla_send_claim(struct batadv_priv *bat_priv, uint8_t *mac,
-				  short vid, int claimtype)
+				  unsigned short vid, int claimtype)
 {
 	struct sk_buff *skb;
 	struct ethhdr *ethhdr;
@@ -335,13 +335,14 @@ static void batadv_bla_send_claim(struct batadv_priv *bat_priv, uint8_t *mac,
 		memcpy(hw_src, mac, ETH_ALEN);
 		memcpy(ethhdr->h_dest, mac, ETH_ALEN);
 		batadv_dbg(BATADV_DBG_BLA, bat_priv,
-			   "bla_send_claim(): REQUEST of %pM to %pMon vid %d\n",
+			   "bla_send_claim(): REQUEST of %pM to %pM on vid %d\n",
 			   ethhdr->h_source, ethhdr->h_dest, vid);
 		break;
 	}
 
-	if (vid != -1)
-		skb = vlan_insert_tag(skb, htons(ETH_P_8021Q), vid);
+	if (vid & BATADV_VLAN_HAS_TAG)
+		skb = vlan_insert_tag(skb, htons(ETH_P_8021Q),
+				      vid & VLAN_VID_MASK);
 
 	skb_reset_mac_header(skb);
 	skb->protocol = eth_type_trans(skb, soft_iface);
@@ -367,7 +368,7 @@ out:
  */
 static struct batadv_bla_backbone_gw *
 batadv_bla_get_backbone_gw(struct batadv_priv *bat_priv, uint8_t *orig,
-			   short vid, bool own_backbone)
+			   unsigned short vid, bool own_backbone)
 {
 	struct batadv_bla_backbone_gw *entry;
 	struct batadv_orig_node *orig_node;
@@ -434,7 +435,7 @@ batadv_bla_get_backbone_gw(struct batadv_priv *bat_priv, uint8_t *orig,
 static void
 batadv_bla_update_own_backbone_gw(struct batadv_priv *bat_priv,
 				  struct batadv_hard_iface *primary_if,
-				  short vid)
+				  unsigned short vid)
 {
 	struct batadv_bla_backbone_gw *backbone_gw;
 
@@ -456,7 +457,7 @@ batadv_bla_update_own_backbone_gw(struct batadv_priv *bat_priv,
  */
 static void batadv_bla_answer_request(struct batadv_priv *bat_priv,
 				      struct batadv_hard_iface *primary_if,
-				      short vid)
+				      unsigned short vid)
 {
 	struct hlist_head *head;
 	struct batadv_hashtable *hash;
@@ -547,7 +548,7 @@ static void batadv_bla_send_announce(struct batadv_priv *bat_priv,
  * @backbone_gw: the backbone gateway which claims it
  */
 static void batadv_bla_add_claim(struct batadv_priv *bat_priv,
-				 const uint8_t *mac, const short vid,
+				 const uint8_t *mac, const unsigned short vid,
 				 struct batadv_bla_backbone_gw *backbone_gw)
 {
 	struct batadv_bla_claim *claim;
@@ -611,7 +612,7 @@ claim_free_ref:
  * given mac address and vid.
  */
 static void batadv_bla_del_claim(struct batadv_priv *bat_priv,
-				 const uint8_t *mac, const short vid)
+				 const uint8_t *mac, const unsigned short vid)
 {
 	struct batadv_bla_claim search_claim, *claim;
 
@@ -637,7 +638,7 @@ static void batadv_bla_del_claim(struct batadv_priv *bat_priv,
 /* check for ANNOUNCE frame, return 1 if handled */
 static int batadv_handle_announce(struct batadv_priv *bat_priv,
 				  uint8_t *an_addr, uint8_t *backbone_addr,
-				  short vid)
+				  unsigned short vid)
 {
 	struct batadv_bla_backbone_gw *backbone_gw;
 	uint16_t crc;
@@ -685,7 +686,7 @@ static int batadv_handle_announce(struct batadv_priv *bat_priv,
 static int batadv_handle_request(struct batadv_priv *bat_priv,
 				 struct batadv_hard_iface *primary_if,
 				 uint8_t *backbone_addr,
-				 struct ethhdr *ethhdr, short vid)
+				 struct ethhdr *ethhdr, unsigned short vid)
 {
 	/* check for REQUEST frame */
 	if (!batadv_compare_eth(backbone_addr, ethhdr->h_dest))
@@ -709,7 +710,7 @@ static int batadv_handle_request(struct batadv_priv *bat_priv,
 static int batadv_handle_unclaim(struct batadv_priv *bat_priv,
 				 struct batadv_hard_iface *primary_if,
 				 uint8_t *backbone_addr,
-				 uint8_t *claim_addr, short vid)
+				 uint8_t *claim_addr, unsigned short vid)
 {
 	struct batadv_bla_backbone_gw *backbone_gw;
 
@@ -738,7 +739,7 @@ static int batadv_handle_unclaim(struct batadv_priv *bat_priv,
 static int batadv_handle_claim(struct batadv_priv *bat_priv,
 			       struct batadv_hard_iface *primary_if,
 			       uint8_t *backbone_addr, uint8_t *claim_addr,
-			       short vid)
+			       unsigned short vid)
 {
 	struct batadv_bla_backbone_gw *backbone_gw;
 
@@ -861,7 +862,7 @@ static int batadv_bla_process_claim(struct batadv_priv *bat_priv,
 	struct batadv_bla_claim_dst *bla_dst;
 	uint16_t proto;
 	int headlen;
-	short vid = -1;
+	unsigned short vid = BATADV_NO_FLAGS;
 	int ret;
 
 	ethhdr = eth_hdr(skb);
@@ -869,6 +870,7 @@ static int batadv_bla_process_claim(struct batadv_priv *bat_priv,
 	if (ntohs(ethhdr->h_proto) == ETH_P_8021Q) {
 		vhdr = (struct vlan_ethhdr *)ethhdr;
 		vid = ntohs(vhdr->h_vlan_TCI) & VLAN_VID_MASK;
+		vid |= BATADV_VLAN_HAS_TAG;
 		proto = ntohs(vhdr->h_vlan_encapsulated_proto);
 		headlen = sizeof(*vhdr);
 	} else {
@@ -1358,7 +1360,7 @@ int batadv_bla_is_backbone_gw(struct sk_buff *skb,
 	struct ethhdr *ethhdr;
 	struct vlan_ethhdr *vhdr;
 	struct batadv_bla_backbone_gw *backbone_gw;
-	short vid = -1;
+	unsigned short vid = BATADV_NO_FLAGS;
 
 	if (!atomic_read(&orig_node->bat_priv->bridge_loop_avoidance))
 		return 0;
@@ -1375,6 +1377,7 @@ int batadv_bla_is_backbone_gw(struct sk_buff *skb,
 
 		vhdr = (struct vlan_ethhdr *)(skb->data + hdr_size);
 		vid = ntohs(vhdr->h_vlan_TCI) & VLAN_VID_MASK;
+		vid |= BATADV_VLAN_HAS_TAG;
 	}
 
 	/* see if this originator is a backbone gw for this VLAN */
@@ -1424,8 +1427,8 @@ void batadv_bla_free(struct batadv_priv *bat_priv)
  * returns 1, otherwise it returns 0 and the caller shall further
  * process the skb.
  */
-int batadv_bla_rx(struct batadv_priv *bat_priv, struct sk_buff *skb, short vid,
-		  bool is_bcast)
+int batadv_bla_rx(struct batadv_priv *bat_priv, struct sk_buff *skb,
+		  unsigned short vid, bool is_bcast)
 {
 	struct ethhdr *ethhdr;
 	struct batadv_bla_claim search_claim, *claim = NULL;
@@ -1519,7 +1522,8 @@ out:
  * returns 1, otherwise it returns 0 and the caller shall further
  * process the skb.
  */
-int batadv_bla_tx(struct batadv_priv *bat_priv, struct sk_buff *skb, short vid)
+int batadv_bla_tx(struct batadv_priv *bat_priv, struct sk_buff *skb,
+		  unsigned short vid)
 {
 	struct ethhdr *ethhdr;
 	struct batadv_bla_claim search_claim, *claim = NULL;
@@ -1623,7 +1627,7 @@ int batadv_bla_claim_table_seq_print_text(struct seq_file *seq, void *offset)
 		hlist_for_each_entry_rcu(claim, head, hash_entry) {
 			is_own = batadv_compare_eth(claim->backbone_gw->orig,
 						    primary_addr);
-			seq_printf(seq,	" * %pM on % 5d by %pM [%c] (%#.4x)\n",
+			seq_printf(seq, " * %pM on %5d by %pM [%c] (%#.4x)\n",
 				   claim->addr, claim->vid,
 				   claim->backbone_gw->orig,
 				   (is_own ? 'x' : ' '),
@@ -1676,10 +1680,9 @@ int batadv_bla_backbone_table_seq_print_text(struct seq_file *seq, void *offset)
 			if (is_own)
 				continue;
 
-			seq_printf(seq,
-				   " * %pM on % 5d % 4i.%03is (%#.4x)\n",
-				   backbone_gw->orig, backbone_gw->vid,
-				   secs, msecs, backbone_gw->crc);
+			seq_printf(seq, " * %pM on %5d %4i.%03is (%#.4x)\n",
+				   backbone_gw->orig, backbone_gw->vid, secs,
+				   msecs, backbone_gw->crc);
 		}
 		rcu_read_unlock();
 	}
diff --git a/net/batman-adv/bridge_loop_avoidance.h b/net/batman-adv/bridge_loop_avoidance.h
index dea2fbc5d98d..4b102e71e5bd 100644
--- a/net/batman-adv/bridge_loop_avoidance.h
+++ b/net/batman-adv/bridge_loop_avoidance.h
@@ -21,9 +21,10 @@
 #define _NET_BATMAN_ADV_BLA_H_
 
 #ifdef CONFIG_BATMAN_ADV_BLA
-int batadv_bla_rx(struct batadv_priv *bat_priv, struct sk_buff *skb, short vid,
-		  bool is_bcast);
-int batadv_bla_tx(struct batadv_priv *bat_priv, struct sk_buff *skb, short vid);
+int batadv_bla_rx(struct batadv_priv *bat_priv, struct sk_buff *skb,
+		  unsigned short vid, bool is_bcast);
+int batadv_bla_tx(struct batadv_priv *bat_priv, struct sk_buff *skb,
+		  unsigned short vid);
 int batadv_bla_is_backbone_gw(struct sk_buff *skb,
 			      struct batadv_orig_node *orig_node, int hdr_size);
 int batadv_bla_claim_table_seq_print_text(struct seq_file *seq, void *offset);
@@ -42,13 +43,14 @@ void batadv_bla_free(struct batadv_priv *bat_priv);
 #else /* ifdef CONFIG_BATMAN_ADV_BLA */
 
 static inline int batadv_bla_rx(struct batadv_priv *bat_priv,
-				struct sk_buff *skb, short vid, bool is_bcast)
+				struct sk_buff *skb, unsigned short vid,
+				bool is_bcast)
 {
 	return 0;
 }
 
 static inline int batadv_bla_tx(struct batadv_priv *bat_priv,
-				struct sk_buff *skb, short vid)
+				struct sk_buff *skb, unsigned short vid)
 {
 	return 0;
 }
diff --git a/net/batman-adv/main.h b/net/batman-adv/main.h
index ea1a3bafe9c3..6f25ef29f305 100644
--- a/net/batman-adv/main.h
+++ b/net/batman-adv/main.h
@@ -162,6 +162,17 @@ enum batadv_uev_type {
 #include <linux/seq_file.h>
 #include "types.h"
 
+/**
+ * batadv_vlan_flags - flags for the four MSB of any vlan ID field
+ * @BATADV_VLAN_HAS_TAG: whether the field contains a valid vlan tag or not
+ */
+enum batadv_vlan_flags {
+	BATADV_VLAN_HAS_TAG	= BIT(15),
+};
+
+#define BATADV_PRINT_VID(vid) (vid & BATADV_VLAN_HAS_TAG ? \
+			       (int)(vid & VLAN_VID_MASK) : -1)
+
 extern char batadv_routing_algo[];
 extern struct list_head batadv_hardif_list;
 
diff --git a/net/batman-adv/soft-interface.c b/net/batman-adv/soft-interface.c
index b26a6cdb934c..700d0b49742d 100644
--- a/net/batman-adv/soft-interface.c
+++ b/net/batman-adv/soft-interface.c
@@ -154,7 +154,7 @@ static int batadv_interface_tx(struct sk_buff *skb,
 						    0x00, 0x00};
 	unsigned int header_len = 0;
 	int data_len = skb->len, ret;
-	short vid __maybe_unused = -1;
+	unsigned short vid __maybe_unused = BATADV_NO_FLAGS;
 	bool do_bcast = false;
 	uint32_t seqno;
 	unsigned long brd_delay = 1;
@@ -303,7 +303,7 @@ void batadv_interface_rx(struct net_device *soft_iface,
 	struct ethhdr *ethhdr;
 	struct vlan_ethhdr *vhdr;
 	struct batadv_header *batadv_header = (struct batadv_header *)skb->data;
-	short vid __maybe_unused = -1;
+	unsigned short vid __maybe_unused = BATADV_NO_FLAGS;
 	__be16 ethertype = __constant_htons(ETH_P_BATMAN);
 	bool is_bcast;
 
diff --git a/net/batman-adv/types.h b/net/batman-adv/types.h
index 5f542bdd9a4d..b2c94e139319 100644
--- a/net/batman-adv/types.h
+++ b/net/batman-adv/types.h
@@ -642,7 +642,7 @@ struct batadv_socket_packet {
 #ifdef CONFIG_BATMAN_ADV_BLA
 struct batadv_bla_backbone_gw {
 	uint8_t orig[ETH_ALEN];
-	short vid;
+	unsigned short vid;
 	struct hlist_node hash_entry;
 	struct batadv_priv *bat_priv;
 	unsigned long lasttime;
@@ -665,7 +665,7 @@ struct batadv_bla_backbone_gw {
  */
 struct batadv_bla_claim {
 	uint8_t addr[ETH_ALEN];
-	short vid;
+	unsigned short vid;
 	struct batadv_bla_backbone_gw *backbone_gw;
 	unsigned long lasttime;
 	struct hlist_node hash_entry;