diff --git a/drivers/net/wireless/mac80211_hwsim.c b/drivers/net/wireless/mac80211_hwsim.c
index d686ba10fecc..62fcf57e2299 100644
--- a/drivers/net/wireless/mac80211_hwsim.c
+++ b/drivers/net/wireless/mac80211_hwsim.c
@@ -3124,6 +3124,11 @@ static int hwsim_new_radio_nl(struct sk_buff *msg, struct genl_info *info)
 	if (info->attrs[HWSIM_ATTR_CHANNELS])
 		param.channels = nla_get_u32(info->attrs[HWSIM_ATTR_CHANNELS]);
 
+	if (param.channels < 1) {
+		GENL_SET_ERR_MSG(info, "must have at least one channel");
+		return -EINVAL;
+	}
+
 	if (param.channels > CFG80211_MAX_NUM_DIFFERENT_CHANNELS) {
 		GENL_SET_ERR_MSG(info, "too many channels specified");
 		return -EINVAL;