diff --git a/net/sched/act_bpf.c b/net/sched/act_bpf.c
index 6cfee6658103..f8a03d3bbf20 100644
--- a/net/sched/act_bpf.c
+++ b/net/sched/act_bpf.c
@@ -184,7 +184,8 @@ static const struct nla_policy act_bpf_policy[TCA_ACT_BPF_MAX + 1] = {
 				    .len = sizeof(struct sock_filter) * BPF_MAXINSNS },
 };
 
-static int tcf_bpf_init_from_ops(struct nlattr **tb, struct tcf_bpf_cfg *cfg)
+static int tcf_bpf_init_from_ops(struct nlattr **tb, struct tcf_bpf_cfg *cfg,
+				 struct netlink_ext_ack *extack)
 {
 	struct sock_filter *bpf_ops;
 	struct sock_fprog_kern fprog_tmp;
@@ -193,12 +194,16 @@ static int tcf_bpf_init_from_ops(struct nlattr **tb, struct tcf_bpf_cfg *cfg)
 	int ret;
 
 	bpf_num_ops = nla_get_u16(tb[TCA_ACT_BPF_OPS_LEN]);
-	if (bpf_num_ops	> BPF_MAXINSNS || bpf_num_ops == 0)
+	if (bpf_num_ops	> BPF_MAXINSNS || bpf_num_ops == 0) {
+		NL_SET_ERR_MSG_MOD(extack, "Invalid number of BPF instructions");
 		return -EINVAL;
+	}
 
 	bpf_size = bpf_num_ops * sizeof(*bpf_ops);
-	if (bpf_size != nla_len(tb[TCA_ACT_BPF_OPS]))
+	if (bpf_size != nla_len(tb[TCA_ACT_BPF_OPS])) {
+		NL_SET_ERR_MSG_MOD(extack, "BPF instruction size");
 		return -EINVAL;
+	}
 
 	bpf_ops = kmemdup(nla_data(tb[TCA_ACT_BPF_OPS]), bpf_size, GFP_KERNEL);
 	if (bpf_ops == NULL)
@@ -221,7 +226,8 @@ static int tcf_bpf_init_from_ops(struct nlattr **tb, struct tcf_bpf_cfg *cfg)
 	return 0;
 }
 
-static int tcf_bpf_init_from_efd(struct nlattr **tb, struct tcf_bpf_cfg *cfg)
+static int tcf_bpf_init_from_efd(struct nlattr **tb, struct tcf_bpf_cfg *cfg,
+				 struct netlink_ext_ack *extack)
 {
 	struct bpf_prog *fp;
 	char *name = NULL;
@@ -230,8 +236,10 @@ static int tcf_bpf_init_from_efd(struct nlattr **tb, struct tcf_bpf_cfg *cfg)
 	bpf_fd = nla_get_u32(tb[TCA_ACT_BPF_FD]);
 
 	fp = bpf_prog_get_type(bpf_fd, BPF_PROG_TYPE_SCHED_ACT);
-	if (IS_ERR(fp))
+	if (IS_ERR(fp)) {
+		NL_SET_ERR_MSG_MOD(extack, "BPF program type mismatch");
 		return PTR_ERR(fp);
+	}
 
 	if (tb[TCA_ACT_BPF_NAME]) {
 		name = nla_memdup(tb[TCA_ACT_BPF_NAME], GFP_KERNEL);
@@ -292,16 +300,20 @@ static int tcf_bpf_init(struct net *net, struct nlattr *nla,
 	int ret, res = 0;
 	u32 index;
 
-	if (!nla)
+	if (!nla) {
+		NL_SET_ERR_MSG_MOD(extack, "Bpf requires attributes to be passed");
 		return -EINVAL;
+	}
 
 	ret = nla_parse_nested_deprecated(tb, TCA_ACT_BPF_MAX, nla,
 					  act_bpf_policy, NULL);
 	if (ret < 0)
 		return ret;
 
-	if (!tb[TCA_ACT_BPF_PARMS])
+	if (!tb[TCA_ACT_BPF_PARMS]) {
+		NL_SET_ERR_MSG_MOD(extack, "Missing required bpf parameters");
 		return -EINVAL;
+	}
 
 	parm = nla_data(tb[TCA_ACT_BPF_PARMS]);
 	index = parm->index;
@@ -336,14 +348,15 @@ static int tcf_bpf_init(struct net *net, struct nlattr *nla,
 	is_ebpf = tb[TCA_ACT_BPF_FD];
 
 	if (is_bpf == is_ebpf) {
+		NL_SET_ERR_MSG_MOD(extack, "Can not specify both BPF fd and ops");
 		ret = -EINVAL;
 		goto put_chain;
 	}
 
 	memset(&cfg, 0, sizeof(cfg));
 
-	ret = is_bpf ? tcf_bpf_init_from_ops(tb, &cfg) :
-		       tcf_bpf_init_from_efd(tb, &cfg);
+	ret = is_bpf ? tcf_bpf_init_from_ops(tb, &cfg, extack) :
+		       tcf_bpf_init_from_efd(tb, &cfg, extack);
 	if (ret < 0)
 		goto put_chain;
 
diff --git a/net/sched/act_connmark.c b/net/sched/act_connmark.c
index f8762756657d..0964d10dfc04 100644
--- a/net/sched/act_connmark.c
+++ b/net/sched/act_connmark.c
@@ -110,16 +110,20 @@ static int tcf_connmark_init(struct net *net, struct nlattr *nla,
 	int ret = 0, err;
 	u32 index;
 
-	if (!nla)
+	if (!nla) {
+		NL_SET_ERR_MSG_MOD(extack, "Connmark requires attributes to be passed");
 		return -EINVAL;
+	}
 
 	ret = nla_parse_nested_deprecated(tb, TCA_CONNMARK_MAX, nla,
 					  connmark_policy, NULL);
 	if (ret < 0)
 		return ret;
 
-	if (!tb[TCA_CONNMARK_PARMS])
+	if (!tb[TCA_CONNMARK_PARMS]) {
+		NL_SET_ERR_MSG(extack, "Missing required connmark parameters");
 		return -EINVAL;
+	}
 
 	nparms = kzalloc(sizeof(*nparms), GFP_KERNEL);
 	if (!nparms)
diff --git a/net/sched/act_csum.c b/net/sched/act_csum.c
index 7f8b1f2f2ed9..7c7f74e37528 100644
--- a/net/sched/act_csum.c
+++ b/net/sched/act_csum.c
@@ -55,16 +55,20 @@ static int tcf_csum_init(struct net *net, struct nlattr *nla,
 	int ret = 0, err;
 	u32 index;
 
-	if (nla == NULL)
+	if (!nla) {
+		NL_SET_ERR_MSG_MOD(extack, "Checksum requires attributes to be passed");
 		return -EINVAL;
+	}
 
 	err = nla_parse_nested_deprecated(tb, TCA_CSUM_MAX, nla, csum_policy,
 					  NULL);
 	if (err < 0)
 		return err;
 
-	if (tb[TCA_CSUM_PARMS] == NULL)
+	if (!tb[TCA_CSUM_PARMS]) {
+		NL_SET_ERR_MSG(extack, "Missing required checksum parameters");
 		return -EINVAL;
+	}
 	parm = nla_data(tb[TCA_CSUM_PARMS]);
 	index = parm->index;
 	err = tcf_idr_check_alloc(tn, &index, a, bind);
diff --git a/net/sched/act_gact.c b/net/sched/act_gact.c
index 4af3b7ec249f..5d04bcd5115e 100644
--- a/net/sched/act_gact.c
+++ b/net/sched/act_gact.c
@@ -68,16 +68,21 @@ static int tcf_gact_init(struct net *net, struct nlattr *nla,
 	struct tc_gact_p *p_parm = NULL;
 #endif
 
-	if (nla == NULL)
+	if (!nla) {
+		NL_SET_ERR_MSG(extack, "Gact requires attributes to be passed");
 		return -EINVAL;
+	}
 
 	err = nla_parse_nested_deprecated(tb, TCA_GACT_MAX, nla, gact_policy,
 					  NULL);
 	if (err < 0)
 		return err;
 
-	if (tb[TCA_GACT_PARMS] == NULL)
+	if (!tb[TCA_GACT_PARMS]) {
+		NL_SET_ERR_MSG_MOD(extack, "Missing required gact parameters");
 		return -EINVAL;
+	}
+
 	parm = nla_data(tb[TCA_GACT_PARMS]);
 	index = parm->index;
 
@@ -87,8 +92,11 @@ static int tcf_gact_init(struct net *net, struct nlattr *nla,
 #else
 	if (tb[TCA_GACT_PROB]) {
 		p_parm = nla_data(tb[TCA_GACT_PROB]);
-		if (p_parm->ptype >= MAX_RAND)
+		if (p_parm->ptype >= MAX_RAND) {
+			NL_SET_ERR_MSG(extack, "Invalid ptype in gact prob");
 			return -EINVAL;
+		}
+
 		if (TC_ACT_EXT_CMP(p_parm->paction, TC_ACT_GOTO_CHAIN)) {
 			NL_SET_ERR_MSG(extack,
 				       "goto chain not allowed on fallback");
diff --git a/net/sched/act_gate.c b/net/sched/act_gate.c
index c681cd011afd..c9e32822938c 100644
--- a/net/sched/act_gate.c
+++ b/net/sched/act_gate.c
@@ -239,8 +239,10 @@ static int parse_gate_list(struct nlattr *list_attr,
 	int err, rem;
 	int i = 0;
 
-	if (!list_attr)
+	if (!list_attr) {
+		NL_SET_ERR_MSG(extack, "Gate missing attributes");
 		return -EINVAL;
+	}
 
 	nla_for_each_nested(n, list_attr, rem) {
 		if (nla_type(n) != TCA_GATE_ONE_ENTRY) {
@@ -317,15 +319,19 @@ static int tcf_gate_init(struct net *net, struct nlattr *nla,
 	ktime_t start;
 	u32 index;
 
-	if (!nla)
+	if (!nla) {
+		NL_SET_ERR_MSG_MOD(extack, "Gate requires attributes to be passed");
 		return -EINVAL;
+	}
 
 	err = nla_parse_nested(tb, TCA_GATE_MAX, nla, gate_policy, extack);
 	if (err < 0)
 		return err;
 
-	if (!tb[TCA_GATE_PARMS])
+	if (!tb[TCA_GATE_PARMS]) {
+		NL_SET_ERR_MSG_MOD(extack, "Missing required gate parameters");
 		return -EINVAL;
+	}
 
 	if (tb[TCA_GATE_CLOCKID]) {
 		clockid = nla_get_s32(tb[TCA_GATE_CLOCKID]);
@@ -343,7 +349,7 @@ static int tcf_gate_init(struct net *net, struct nlattr *nla,
 			tk_offset = TK_OFFS_TAI;
 			break;
 		default:
-			NL_SET_ERR_MSG(extack, "Invalid 'clockid'");
+			NL_SET_ERR_MSG_MOD(extack, "Invalid 'clockid'");
 			return -EINVAL;
 		}
 	}
@@ -409,6 +415,7 @@ static int tcf_gate_init(struct net *net, struct nlattr *nla,
 			cycle = ktime_add_ns(cycle, entry->interval);
 		cycletime = cycle;
 		if (!cycletime) {
+			NL_SET_ERR_MSG_MOD(extack, "cycle time is zero");
 			err = -EINVAL;
 			goto chain_put;
 		}
diff --git a/net/sched/act_ife.c b/net/sched/act_ife.c
index 0e867d13beb5..85a58cfb23f3 100644
--- a/net/sched/act_ife.c
+++ b/net/sched/act_ife.c
@@ -508,8 +508,10 @@ static int tcf_ife_init(struct net *net, struct nlattr *nla,
 	if (err < 0)
 		return err;
 
-	if (!tb[TCA_IFE_PARMS])
+	if (!tb[TCA_IFE_PARMS]) {
+		NL_SET_ERR_MSG_MOD(extack, "Missing required ife parameters");
 		return -EINVAL;
+	}
 
 	parm = nla_data(tb[TCA_IFE_PARMS]);
 
@@ -517,8 +519,10 @@ static int tcf_ife_init(struct net *net, struct nlattr *nla,
 	 * they cannot run as the same time. Check on all other values which
 	 * are not supported right now.
 	 */
-	if (parm->flags & ~IFE_ENCODE)
+	if (parm->flags & ~IFE_ENCODE) {
+		NL_SET_ERR_MSG_MOD(extack, "Invalid ife flag parameter");
 		return -EINVAL;
+	}
 
 	p = kzalloc(sizeof(*p), GFP_KERNEL);
 	if (!p)
diff --git a/net/sched/act_nat.c b/net/sched/act_nat.c
index a180e724634e..a990d0c626cd 100644
--- a/net/sched/act_nat.c
+++ b/net/sched/act_nat.c
@@ -46,16 +46,21 @@ static int tcf_nat_init(struct net *net, struct nlattr *nla, struct nlattr *est,
 	struct tcf_nat *p;
 	u32 index;
 
-	if (nla == NULL)
+	if (!nla) {
+		NL_SET_ERR_MSG_MOD(extack, "Nat action requires attributes");
 		return -EINVAL;
+	}
 
 	err = nla_parse_nested_deprecated(tb, TCA_NAT_MAX, nla, nat_policy,
 					  NULL);
 	if (err < 0)
 		return err;
 
-	if (tb[TCA_NAT_PARMS] == NULL)
+	if (!tb[TCA_NAT_PARMS]) {
+		NL_SET_ERR_MSG_MOD(extack, "Nat action parameters missing");
 		return -EINVAL;
+	}
+
 	parm = nla_data(tb[TCA_NAT_PARMS]);
 	index = parm->index;
 	err = tcf_idr_check_alloc(tn, &index, a, bind);
diff --git a/net/sched/act_police.c b/net/sched/act_police.c
index e119b4a3db9f..3eb41233257b 100644
--- a/net/sched/act_police.c
+++ b/net/sched/act_police.c
@@ -56,19 +56,26 @@ static int tcf_police_init(struct net *net, struct nlattr *nla,
 	u64 rate64, prate64;
 	u64 pps, ppsburst;
 
-	if (nla == NULL)
+	if (!nla) {
+		NL_SET_ERR_MSG_MOD(extack, "Police requires attributes");
 		return -EINVAL;
+	}
 
 	err = nla_parse_nested_deprecated(tb, TCA_POLICE_MAX, nla,
 					  police_policy, NULL);
 	if (err < 0)
 		return err;
 
-	if (tb[TCA_POLICE_TBF] == NULL)
+	if (!tb[TCA_POLICE_TBF]) {
+		NL_SET_ERR_MSG_MOD(extack, "Missing required police action parameters");
 		return -EINVAL;
+	}
+
 	size = nla_len(tb[TCA_POLICE_TBF]);
-	if (size != sizeof(*parm) && size != sizeof(struct tc_police_compat))
+	if (size != sizeof(*parm) && size != sizeof(struct tc_police_compat)) {
+		NL_SET_ERR_MSG_MOD(extack, "Invalid size for police action parameters");
 		return -EINVAL;
+	}
 
 	parm = nla_data(tb[TCA_POLICE_TBF]);
 	index = parm->index;
diff --git a/net/sched/act_sample.c b/net/sched/act_sample.c
index c5c61efe6db4..2442e001d92e 100644
--- a/net/sched/act_sample.c
+++ b/net/sched/act_sample.c
@@ -49,15 +49,19 @@ static int tcf_sample_init(struct net *net, struct nlattr *nla,
 	bool exists = false;
 	int ret, err;
 
-	if (!nla)
+	if (!nla) {
+		NL_SET_ERR_MSG_MOD(extack, "Sample requires attributes to be passed");
 		return -EINVAL;
+	}
 	ret = nla_parse_nested_deprecated(tb, TCA_SAMPLE_MAX, nla,
 					  sample_policy, NULL);
 	if (ret < 0)
 		return ret;
 
-	if (!tb[TCA_SAMPLE_PARMS])
+	if (!tb[TCA_SAMPLE_PARMS]) {
+		NL_SET_ERR_MSG_MOD(extack, "Missing required sample action parameters");
 		return -EINVAL;
+	}
 
 	parm = nla_data(tb[TCA_SAMPLE_PARMS]);
 	index = parm->index;
diff --git a/net/sched/act_simple.c b/net/sched/act_simple.c
index 0a3e92888295..02b8e42c1bdd 100644
--- a/net/sched/act_simple.c
+++ b/net/sched/act_simple.c
@@ -100,16 +100,20 @@ static int tcf_simp_init(struct net *net, struct nlattr *nla,
 	int ret = 0, err;
 	u32 index;
 
-	if (nla == NULL)
+	if (!nla) {
+		NL_SET_ERR_MSG_MOD(extack, "Sample requires attributes to be passed");
 		return -EINVAL;
+	}
 
 	err = nla_parse_nested_deprecated(tb, TCA_DEF_MAX, nla, simple_policy,
 					  NULL);
 	if (err < 0)
 		return err;
 
-	if (tb[TCA_DEF_PARMS] == NULL)
+	if (!tb[TCA_DEF_PARMS]) {
+		NL_SET_ERR_MSG_MOD(extack, "Missing required sample action parameters");
 		return -EINVAL;
+	}
 
 	parm = nla_data(tb[TCA_DEF_PARMS]);
 	index = parm->index;
@@ -121,6 +125,7 @@ static int tcf_simp_init(struct net *net, struct nlattr *nla,
 		return ACT_P_BOUND;
 
 	if (tb[TCA_DEF_DATA] == NULL) {
+		NL_SET_ERR_MSG_MOD(extack, "Missing simple action default data");
 		if (exists)
 			tcf_idr_release(*a, bind);
 		else
diff --git a/net/sched/act_skbedit.c b/net/sched/act_skbedit.c
index 754f78b35bb8..671ca64a2c33 100644
--- a/net/sched/act_skbedit.c
+++ b/net/sched/act_skbedit.c
@@ -133,16 +133,20 @@ static int tcf_skbedit_init(struct net *net, struct nlattr *nla,
 	int ret = 0, err;
 	u32 index;
 
-	if (nla == NULL)
+	if (!nla) {
+		NL_SET_ERR_MSG_MOD(extack, "Skbedit requires attributes to be passed");
 		return -EINVAL;
+	}
 
 	err = nla_parse_nested_deprecated(tb, TCA_SKBEDIT_MAX, nla,
 					  skbedit_policy, NULL);
 	if (err < 0)
 		return err;
 
-	if (tb[TCA_SKBEDIT_PARMS] == NULL)
+	if (!tb[TCA_SKBEDIT_PARMS]) {
+		NL_SET_ERR_MSG_MOD(extack, "Missing required skbedit parameters");
 		return -EINVAL;
+	}
 
 	if (tb[TCA_SKBEDIT_PRIORITY] != NULL) {
 		flags |= SKBEDIT_F_PRIORITY;
@@ -161,8 +165,10 @@ static int tcf_skbedit_init(struct net *net, struct nlattr *nla,
 
 	if (tb[TCA_SKBEDIT_PTYPE] != NULL) {
 		ptype = nla_data(tb[TCA_SKBEDIT_PTYPE]);
-		if (!skb_pkt_type_ok(*ptype))
+		if (!skb_pkt_type_ok(*ptype)) {
+			NL_SET_ERR_MSG_MOD(extack, "ptype is not a valid");
 			return -EINVAL;
+		}
 		flags |= SKBEDIT_F_PTYPE;
 	}
 
@@ -212,6 +218,7 @@ static int tcf_skbedit_init(struct net *net, struct nlattr *nla,
 		return ACT_P_BOUND;
 
 	if (!flags) {
+		NL_SET_ERR_MSG_MOD(extack, "No skbedit action flag");
 		if (exists)
 			tcf_idr_release(*a, bind);
 		else
diff --git a/net/sched/act_skbmod.c b/net/sched/act_skbmod.c
index bcb673ab0008..c80828cdeb69 100644
--- a/net/sched/act_skbmod.c
+++ b/net/sched/act_skbmod.c
@@ -119,16 +119,20 @@ static int tcf_skbmod_init(struct net *net, struct nlattr *nla,
 	u16 eth_type = 0;
 	int ret = 0, err;
 
-	if (!nla)
+	if (!nla) {
+		NL_SET_ERR_MSG_MOD(extack, "Skbmod requires attributes to be passed");
 		return -EINVAL;
+	}
 
 	err = nla_parse_nested_deprecated(tb, TCA_SKBMOD_MAX, nla,
 					  skbmod_policy, NULL);
 	if (err < 0)
 		return err;
 
-	if (!tb[TCA_SKBMOD_PARMS])
+	if (!tb[TCA_SKBMOD_PARMS]) {
+		NL_SET_ERR_MSG_MOD(extack, "Missing required skbmod parameters");
 		return -EINVAL;
+	}
 
 	if (tb[TCA_SKBMOD_DMAC]) {
 		daddr = nla_data(tb[TCA_SKBMOD_DMAC]);
@@ -160,6 +164,7 @@ static int tcf_skbmod_init(struct net *net, struct nlattr *nla,
 		return ACT_P_BOUND;
 
 	if (!lflags) {
+		NL_SET_ERR_MSG_MOD(extack, "No skbmod action flag");
 		if (exists)
 			tcf_idr_release(*a, bind);
 		else
diff --git a/net/sched/act_vlan.c b/net/sched/act_vlan.c
index 836183011a7c..b468a4c8a904 100644
--- a/net/sched/act_vlan.c
+++ b/net/sched/act_vlan.c
@@ -134,16 +134,20 @@ static int tcf_vlan_init(struct net *net, struct nlattr *nla,
 	int ret = 0, err;
 	u32 index;
 
-	if (!nla)
+	if (!nla) {
+		NL_SET_ERR_MSG_MOD(extack, "Vlan requires attributes to be passed");
 		return -EINVAL;
+	}
 
 	err = nla_parse_nested_deprecated(tb, TCA_VLAN_MAX, nla, vlan_policy,
 					  NULL);
 	if (err < 0)
 		return err;
 
-	if (!tb[TCA_VLAN_PARMS])
+	if (!tb[TCA_VLAN_PARMS]) {
+		NL_SET_ERR_MSG_MOD(extack, "Missing required vlan action parameters");
 		return -EINVAL;
+	}
 	parm = nla_data(tb[TCA_VLAN_PARMS]);
 	index = parm->index;
 	err = tcf_idr_check_alloc(tn, &index, a, bind);
