diff --git a/net/sched/ematch.c b/net/sched/ematch.c
index b0b04b3c0896..d4d6f9c91e8c 100644
--- a/net/sched/ematch.c
+++ b/net/sched/ematch.c
@@ -242,6 +242,9 @@ static int tcf_em_validate(struct tcf_proto *tp,
 			goto errout;
 
 		if (em->ops->change) {
+			err = -EINVAL;
+			if (em_hdr->flags & TCF_EM_SIMPLE)
+				goto errout;
 			err = em->ops->change(net, data, data_len, em);
 			if (err < 0)
 				goto errout;