diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/stmicro/stmmac/stmmac_tc.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/stmicro/stmmac/stmmac_tc.c
index 773e415cc2de..2cfb18cef1d4 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/stmicro/stmmac/stmmac_tc.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/stmicro/stmmac/stmmac_tc.c
@@ -926,6 +926,9 @@ static int tc_setup_taprio(struct stmmac_priv *priv,
 	int i, ret = 0;
 	u64 ctr;
 
+	if (qopt->base_time < 0)
+		return -ERANGE;
+
 	if (!priv->dma_cap.estsel)
 		return -EOPNOTSUPP;