diff --git a/drivers/rapidio/rio_cm.c b/drivers/rapidio/rio_cm.c
index 49f8d111e546..897642e62068 100644
--- a/drivers/rapidio/rio_cm.c
+++ b/drivers/rapidio/rio_cm.c
@@ -787,6 +787,9 @@ static int riocm_ch_send(u16 ch_id, void *buf, int len)
 	if (buf == NULL || ch_id == 0 || len == 0 || len > RIO_MAX_MSG_SIZE)
 		return -EINVAL;
 
+	if (len < sizeof(struct rio_ch_chan_hdr))
+		return -EINVAL;		/* insufficient data from user */
+
 	ch = riocm_get_channel(ch_id);
 	if (!ch) {
 		riocm_error("%s(%d) ch_%d not found", current->comm,