diff --git a/sound/core/pcm_native.c b/sound/core/pcm_native.c
index 23e17a58651b..5c07c5be3142 100644
--- a/sound/core/pcm_native.c
+++ b/sound/core/pcm_native.c
@@ -1836,6 +1836,11 @@ static int snd_pcm_link(struct snd_pcm_substream *substream, int fd)
 	}
 	pcm_file = f.file->private_data;
 	substream1 = pcm_file->substream;
+	if (substream == substream1) {
+		res = -EINVAL;
+		goto _badf;
+	}
+
 	group = kmalloc(sizeof(*group), GFP_KERNEL);
 	if (!group) {
 		res = -ENOMEM;