diff --git a/sound/soc/soc-topology.c b/sound/soc/soc-topology.c
index 950c45008e24..0d182a190c98 100644
--- a/sound/soc/soc-topology.c
+++ b/sound/soc/soc-topology.c
@@ -2659,8 +2659,14 @@ int snd_soc_tplg_component_load(struct snd_soc_component *comp,
 	struct soc_tplg tplg;
 	int ret;
 
-	/* component needs to exist to keep and reference data while parsing */
-	if (!comp)
+	/*
+	 * check if we have sane parameters:
+	 * comp - needs to exist to keep and reference data while parsing
+	 * comp->dev - used for resource management and prints
+	 * comp->card - used for setting card related parameters
+	 * fw - we need it, as it is the very thing we parse
+	 */
+	if (!comp || !comp->dev || !comp->card || !fw)
 		return -EINVAL;
 
 	/* setup parsing context */