diff --git a/kernel/sched.c b/kernel/sched.c
index 788ecce1e0e4..3ee2ae45125f 100644
--- a/kernel/sched.c
+++ b/kernel/sched.c
@@ -3850,6 +3850,10 @@ do_sched_setscheduler(pid_t pid, int policy, struct sched_param __user *param)
 asmlinkage long sys_sched_setscheduler(pid_t pid, int policy,
 				       struct sched_param __user *param)
 {
+	/* negative values for policy are not valid */
+	if (policy < 0)
+		return -EINVAL;
+
 	return do_sched_setscheduler(pid, policy, param);
 }