diff --git a/drivers/i2c/i2c-dev.c b/drivers/i2c/i2c-dev.c
index bce0e8bb7852..cf5d049342ea 100644
--- a/drivers/i2c/i2c-dev.c
+++ b/drivers/i2c/i2c-dev.c
@@ -535,6 +535,9 @@ static long compat_i2cdev_ioctl(struct file *file, unsigned int cmd, unsigned lo
 				   sizeof(rdwr_arg)))
 			return -EFAULT;
 
+		if (!rdwr_arg.msgs || rdwr_arg.nmsgs == 0)
+			return -EINVAL;
+
 		if (rdwr_arg.nmsgs > I2C_RDWR_IOCTL_MAX_MSGS)
 			return -EINVAL;