diff --git a/drivers/md/dm-thin.c b/drivers/md/dm-thin.c
index 345f4d81ba07..23a7e108352a 100644
--- a/drivers/md/dm-thin.c
+++ b/drivers/md/dm-thin.c
@@ -3295,6 +3295,13 @@ static int pool_ctr(struct dm_target *ti, unsigned argc, char **argv)
 	as.argc = argc;
 	as.argv = argv;
 
+	/* make sure metadata and data are different devices */
+	if (!strcmp(argv[0], argv[1])) {
+		ti->error = "Error setting metadata or data device";
+		r = -EINVAL;
+		goto out_unlock;
+	}
+
 	/*
 	 * Set default pool features.
 	 */
@@ -4177,6 +4184,12 @@ static int thin_ctr(struct dm_target *ti, unsigned argc, char **argv)
 	tc->sort_bio_list = RB_ROOT;
 
 	if (argc == 3) {
+		if (!strcmp(argv[0], argv[2])) {
+			ti->error = "Error setting origin device";
+			r = -EINVAL;
+			goto bad_origin_dev;
+		}
+
 		r = dm_get_device(ti, argv[2], FMODE_READ, &origin_dev);
 		if (r) {
 			ti->error = "Error opening origin device";