diff --git a/sys/netgraph7/ng_ipfw.c b/sys/netgraph7/ng_ipfw.c
index 0000000..1111111
--- a/sys/netgraph7/ng_ipfw.c
+++ b/sys/netgraph7/ng_ipfw.c
@@ -248,7 +248,10 @@
 		ip_input(m);
 		return (0);
 	default:
-		panic("ng_ipfw_rcvdata: bad dir %u", ngit->dir);
+		log(LOG_ERR, "ng_ipfw_rcvdata: bad dir %u, dropping mbuf\n",
+		    ngit->dir);
+		m_freem(m);
+		return (EINVAL);
 	}	
 
 	/* not reached */