diff --git a/drivers/atm/fore200e.c b/drivers/atm/fore200e.c
index 99a38115b0a8..86aab14872fd 100644
--- a/drivers/atm/fore200e.c
+++ b/drivers/atm/fore200e.c
@@ -1504,12 +1504,14 @@ fore200e_open(struct atm_vcc *vcc)
 static void
 fore200e_close(struct atm_vcc* vcc)
 {
-    struct fore200e*        fore200e = FORE200E_DEV(vcc->dev);
     struct fore200e_vcc*    fore200e_vcc;
+    struct fore200e*        fore200e;
     struct fore200e_vc_map* vc_map;
     unsigned long           flags;
 
     ASSERT(vcc);
+    fore200e = FORE200E_DEV(vcc->dev);
+
     ASSERT((vcc->vpi >= 0) && (vcc->vpi < 1<<FORE200E_VPI_BITS));
     ASSERT((vcc->vci >= 0) && (vcc->vci < 1<<FORE200E_VCI_BITS));
 
@@ -1554,10 +1556,10 @@ fore200e_close(struct atm_vcc* vcc)
 static int
 fore200e_send(struct atm_vcc *vcc, struct sk_buff *skb)
 {
-    struct fore200e*        fore200e     = FORE200E_DEV(vcc->dev);
-    struct fore200e_vcc*    fore200e_vcc = FORE200E_VCC(vcc);
+    struct fore200e*        fore200e;
+    struct fore200e_vcc*    fore200e_vcc;
     struct fore200e_vc_map* vc_map;
-    struct host_txq*        txq          = &fore200e->host_txq;
+    struct host_txq*        txq;
     struct host_txq_entry*  entry;
     struct tpd*             tpd;
     struct tpd_haddr        tpd_haddr;
@@ -1570,9 +1572,18 @@ fore200e_send(struct atm_vcc *vcc, struct sk_buff *skb)
     unsigned char*          data;
     unsigned long           flags;
 
-    ASSERT(vcc);
-    ASSERT(fore200e);
-    ASSERT(fore200e_vcc);
+    if (!vcc)
+        return -EINVAL;
+
+    fore200e = FORE200E_DEV(vcc->dev);
+    fore200e_vcc = FORE200E_VCC(vcc);
+
+    if (!fore200e)
+        return -EINVAL;
+
+    txq = &fore200e->host_txq;
+    if (!fore200e_vcc)
+        return -EINVAL;
 
     if (!test_bit(ATM_VF_READY, &vcc->flags)) {
 	DPRINTK(1, "VC %d.%d.%d not ready for tx\n", vcc->itf, vcc->vpi, vcc->vpi);