diff --git a/WHATS_NEW b/WHATS_NEW
index 345c4720c..897576c69 100644
--- a/WHATS_NEW
+++ b/WHATS_NEW
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 Version 2.02.178 - 
 =====================================
+  Avoid exceeding array bounds in allocation tag processing.
   Refactor metadata reading code to use callback functions.
   Move memory allocation for the key dev_reads into the device layer.
 
diff --git a/lib/metadata/lv_manip.c b/lib/metadata/lv_manip.c
index 70dc2d92c..ac30dadeb 100644
--- a/lib/metadata/lv_manip.c
+++ b/lib/metadata/lv_manip.c
@@ -2737,7 +2737,8 @@ static int _limit_to_one_area_per_tag(struct alloc_handle *ah, struct alloc_stat
 		s++;
 	}
 
-	alloc_state->areas[u].pva = NULL;
+	if (u < alloc_state->areas_size)
+		alloc_state->areas[u].pva = NULL;
 
 	return 1;
 }