diff --git a/drivers/misc/mei/bus-fixup.c b/drivers/misc/mei/bus-fixup.c
index 0208c4b027c5..fa0236a5e59a 100644
--- a/drivers/misc/mei/bus-fixup.c
+++ b/drivers/misc/mei/bus-fixup.c
@@ -267,7 +267,7 @@ static int mei_nfc_if_version(struct mei_cl *cl,
 
 	ret = 0;
 	bytes_recv = __mei_cl_recv(cl, (u8 *)reply, if_version_length, 0);
-	if (bytes_recv < if_version_length) {
+	if (bytes_recv < 0 || bytes_recv < if_version_length) {
 		dev_err(bus->dev, "Could not read IF version\n");
 		ret = -EIO;
 		goto err;