diff --git a/net/xfrm/xfrm_user.c b/net/xfrm/xfrm_user.c
index 5d1d60d3ca83..c658cb3bc7c3 100644
--- a/net/xfrm/xfrm_user.c
+++ b/net/xfrm/xfrm_user.c
@@ -124,6 +124,9 @@ static inline int verify_replay(struct xfrm_usersa_info *p,
 {
 	struct nlattr *rt = attrs[XFRMA_REPLAY_ESN_VAL];
 
+	if ((p->flags & XFRM_STATE_ESN) && !rt)
+		return -EINVAL;
+
 	if (!rt)
 		return 0;