diff --git a/drivers/misc/mei/nfc.c b/drivers/misc/mei/nfc.c
index b4d5cdda26cdab..1b1fa85648be31 100644
--- a/drivers/misc/mei/nfc.c
+++ b/drivers/misc/mei/nfc.c
@@ -292,7 +292,7 @@ static int mei_nfc_if_version(struct mei_nfc_dev *ndev)
 		return -ENOMEM;
 
 	bytes_recv = __mei_cl_recv(cl, (u8 *)reply, if_version_length);
-	if (bytes_recv < if_version_length) {
+	if (bytes_recv < 0 || bytes_recv < if_version_length) {
 		dev_err(&dev->pdev->dev, "Could not read IF version\n");
 		ret = -EIO;
 		goto err;