diff --git a/fs/btrfs/send.c b/fs/btrfs/send.c
index 0b04adfd4a4a..0519a3557697 100644
--- a/fs/btrfs/send.c
+++ b/fs/btrfs/send.c
@@ -966,7 +966,15 @@ static int iterate_inode_ref(struct btrfs_root *root, struct btrfs_path *path,
 					ret = PTR_ERR(start);
 					goto out;
 				}
-				BUG_ON(start < p->buf);
+				if (unlikely(start < p->buf)) {
+					btrfs_err(root->fs_info,
+			"send: path ref buffer underflow for key (%llu %u %llu)",
+						  found_key->objectid,
+						  found_key->type,
+						  found_key->offset);
+					ret = -EINVAL;
+					goto out;
+				}
 			}
 			p->start = start;
 		} else {