diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/i40e/i40e_main.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/i40e/i40e_main.c
index 4a18a7c7dd4c..614f3e995100 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/i40e/i40e_main.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/intel/i40e/i40e_main.c
@@ -8163,6 +8163,11 @@ static int i40e_configure_clsflower(struct i40e_vsi *vsi,
 		return -EOPNOTSUPP;
 	}
 
+	if (!tc) {
+		dev_err(&pf->pdev->dev, "Unable to add filter because of invalid destination");
+		return -EINVAL;
+	}
+
 	if (test_bit(__I40E_RESET_RECOVERY_PENDING, pf->state) ||
 	    test_bit(__I40E_RESET_INTR_RECEIVED, pf->state))
 		return -EBUSY;