diff --git a/drivers/infiniband/core/smi.c b/drivers/infiniband/core/smi.c
index 87236753bce9..5855e4405d9b 100644
--- a/drivers/infiniband/core/smi.c
+++ b/drivers/infiniband/core/smi.c
@@ -52,6 +52,10 @@ enum smi_action smi_handle_dr_smp_send(struct ib_smp *smp,
 	hop_cnt = smp->hop_cnt;
 
 	/* See section 14.2.2.2, Vol 1 IB spec */
+	/* C14-6 -- valid hop_cnt values are from 0 to 63 */
+	if (hop_cnt >= IB_SMP_MAX_PATH_HOPS)
+		return IB_SMI_DISCARD;
+
 	if (!ib_get_smp_direction(smp)) {
 		/* C14-9:1 */
 		if (hop_cnt && hop_ptr == 0) {
@@ -133,6 +137,10 @@ enum smi_action smi_handle_dr_smp_recv(struct ib_smp *smp, u8 node_type,
 	hop_cnt = smp->hop_cnt;
 
 	/* See section 14.2.2.2, Vol 1 IB spec */
+	/* C14-6 -- valid hop_cnt values are from 0 to 63 */
+	if (hop_cnt >= IB_SMP_MAX_PATH_HOPS)
+		return IB_SMI_DISCARD;
+
 	if (!ib_get_smp_direction(smp)) {
 		/* C14-9:1 -- sender should have incremented hop_ptr */
 		if (hop_cnt && hop_ptr == 0)