On Wed, 2018-09-19 at 09:20 -0700, David Ahern wrote: > > nla_for_each_attr(nla, head, len, rem) { > > - int err = validate_nla(nla, maxtype, policy, NULL); > > + static const char _msg[] = "Attribute failed policy validation"; > > + const char *msg = _msg; > > + int err = validate_nla(nla, maxtype, policy, &msg); > > > > if (err < 0) { > > + if (extack) > > + extack->_msg = msg; > > NL_SET_BAD_ATTR(extack, nla); > > msg, NL_SET_BAD_ATTR and extack handling all can be done in validate_nla > removing the need for the same message ("Attribute failed policy > validation") to be declared twice and simplifying the extack setting. Yeah, perhaps I should take another look at that. I didn't want to do that originally as validate_nla() has so many exit points, but perhaps it's better to put a goto label there. FWIW, in the next patch I'm getting rid of the duplication again - I wanted to have the patch that has an effect (this one, setting the message) more clearly separated. johannes