diff --git a/net/ipv6/ipv6_sockglue.c b/net/ipv6/ipv6_sockglue.c
index c99e3ee9781f..26cb08c84b74 100644
--- a/net/ipv6/ipv6_sockglue.c
+++ b/net/ipv6/ipv6_sockglue.c
@@ -503,7 +503,7 @@ done:
 			goto e_inval;
 		if (val > 255 || val < -1)
 			goto e_inval;
-		np->mcast_hops = val;
+		np->mcast_hops = (val == -1 ? IPV6_DEFAULT_MCASTHOPS : val);
 		retv = 0;
 		break;