diff --git a/drivers/infiniband/core/counters.c b/drivers/infiniband/core/counters.c
index 023478107f0e..46dd50ff7c85 100644
--- a/drivers/infiniband/core/counters.c
+++ b/drivers/infiniband/core/counters.c
@@ -466,10 +466,15 @@ static struct rdma_counter *rdma_get_counter_by_id(struct ib_device *dev,
 int rdma_counter_bind_qpn(struct ib_device *dev, u8 port,
 			  u32 qp_num, u32 counter_id)
 {
+	struct rdma_port_counter *port_counter;
 	struct rdma_counter *counter;
 	struct ib_qp *qp;
 	int ret;
 
+	port_counter = &dev->port_data[port].port_counter;
+	if (port_counter->mode.mode == RDMA_COUNTER_MODE_AUTO)
+		return -EINVAL;
+
 	qp = rdma_counter_get_qp(dev, qp_num);
 	if (!qp)
 		return -ENOENT;
@@ -506,6 +511,7 @@ err:
 int rdma_counter_bind_qpn_alloc(struct ib_device *dev, u8 port,
 				u32 qp_num, u32 *counter_id)
 {
+	struct rdma_port_counter *port_counter;
 	struct rdma_counter *counter;
 	struct ib_qp *qp;
 	int ret;
@@ -513,9 +519,13 @@ int rdma_counter_bind_qpn_alloc(struct ib_device *dev, u8 port,
 	if (!rdma_is_port_valid(dev, port))
 		return -EINVAL;
 
-	if (!dev->port_data[port].port_counter.hstats)
+	port_counter = &dev->port_data[port].port_counter;
+	if (!port_counter->hstats)
 		return -EOPNOTSUPP;
 
+	if (port_counter->mode.mode == RDMA_COUNTER_MODE_AUTO)
+		return -EINVAL;
+
 	qp = rdma_counter_get_qp(dev, qp_num);
 	if (!qp)
 		return -ENOENT;