diff --git a/fs/ksmbd/smb2misc.c b/fs/ksmbd/smb2misc.c
index b8b94f81ec6e..c579d0e09c13 100644
--- a/fs/ksmbd/smb2misc.c
+++ b/fs/ksmbd/smb2misc.c
@@ -414,20 +414,19 @@ int ksmbd_smb2_check_message(struct ksmbd_work *work)
 			goto validate_credit;
 
 		/*
-		 * windows client also pad up to 8 bytes when compounding.
-		 * If pad is longer than eight bytes, log the server behavior
-		 * (once), since may indicate a problem but allow it and
-		 * continue since the frame is parseable.
+		 * SMB2 NEGOTIATE request will be validated when message
+		 * handling proceeds.
 		 */
-		if (clc_len < len) {
-			ksmbd_debug(SMB,
-				    "cli req padded more than expected. Length %d not %d for cmd:%d mid:%llu\n",
-				    len, clc_len, command,
-				    le64_to_cpu(hdr->MessageId));
+		if (command == SMB2_NEGOTIATE_HE)
 			goto validate_credit;
-		}
 
-		ksmbd_debug(SMB,
+		/*
+		 * Allow a message that padded to 8byte boundary.
+		 */
+		if (clc_len < len && (len - clc_len) < 8)
+			goto validate_credit;
+
+		pr_err_ratelimited(
 			    "cli req too short, len %d not %d. cmd:%d mid:%llu\n",
 			    len, clc_len, command,
 			    le64_to_cpu(hdr->MessageId));