diff --git a/net/sched/ematch.c b/net/sched/ematch.c
index d4d6f9c91e8c..59340d633253 100644
--- a/net/sched/ematch.c
+++ b/net/sched/ematch.c
@@ -259,6 +259,8 @@ static int tcf_em_validate(struct tcf_proto *tp,
 			 * the value carried.
 			 */
 			if (em_hdr->flags & TCF_EM_SIMPLE) {
+				if (em->ops->datalen > 0)
+					goto errout;
 				if (data_len < sizeof(u32))
 					goto errout;
 				em->data = *(u32 *) data;