diff --git a/net/ipv4/tcp_input.c b/net/ipv4/tcp_input.c
index 8aaec55361119249c6fc67af5f12f037e1c50504..fdd49f1b7a521852ea1a26679563bf7e62032cfa 100644
--- a/net/ipv4/tcp_input.c
+++ b/net/ipv4/tcp_input.c
@@ -5296,8 +5296,11 @@ static bool tcp_validate_incoming(struct sock *sk, struct sk_buff *skb,
 		 * an acknowledgment should be sent in reply (unless the RST
 		 * bit is set, if so drop the segment and return)".
 		 */
-		if (!th->rst)
+		if (!th->rst) {
+			if (th->syn)
+				goto syn_challenge;
 			tcp_send_dupack(sk, skb);
+		}
 		goto discard;
 	}
 
@@ -5327,6 +5330,7 @@ static bool tcp_validate_incoming(struct sock *sk, struct sk_buff *skb,
 	 * RFC 5691 4.2 : Send a challenge ack
 	 */
 	if (th->syn) {
+syn_challenge:
 		if (syn_inerr)
 			TCP_INC_STATS_BH(sock_net(sk), TCP_MIB_INERRS);
 		NET_INC_STATS_BH(sock_net(sk), LINUX_MIB_TCPSYNCHALLENGE);