diff --git a/drivers/usb/gadget/configfs.c b/drivers/usb/gadget/configfs.c
index c2bff3f5e035..5ea8dbaa203a 100644
--- a/drivers/usb/gadget/configfs.c
+++ b/drivers/usb/gadget/configfs.c
@@ -461,6 +461,12 @@ static int config_usb_cfg_link(
 	 * from another gadget or a random directory.
 	 * Also a function instance can only be linked once.
 	 */
+
+	if (gi->composite.gadget_driver.udc_name) {
+		ret = -EINVAL;
+		goto out;
+	}
+
 	list_for_each_entry(iter, &gi->available_func, cfs_list) {
 		if (iter != fi)
 			continue;