diff --git a/fs/fuse/virtio_fs.c b/fs/fuse/virtio_fs.c
index d2c0e58c6416..3d83c9e12848 100644
--- a/fs/fuse/virtio_fs.c
+++ b/fs/fuse/virtio_fs.c
@@ -1324,8 +1324,15 @@ static int virtio_fs_fill_super(struct super_block *sb, struct fs_context *fsc)
 
 	/* virtiofs allocates and installs its own fuse devices */
 	ctx->fudptr = NULL;
-	if (ctx->dax)
+	if (ctx->dax) {
+		if (!fs->dax_dev) {
+			err = -EINVAL;
+			pr_err("virtio-fs: dax can't be enabled as filesystem"
+			       " device does not support it.\n");
+			goto err_free_fuse_devs;
+		}
 		ctx->dax_dev = fs->dax_dev;
+	}
 	err = fuse_fill_super_common(sb, ctx);
 	if (err < 0)
 		goto err_free_fuse_devs;