diff --git a/drivers/net/mv643xx_eth.c b/drivers/net/mv643xx_eth.c
index 796a493f95a..1405a170bb4 100644
--- a/drivers/net/mv643xx_eth.c
+++ b/drivers/net/mv643xx_eth.c
@@ -1827,6 +1827,9 @@ static int mv643xx_eth_set_mac_address(struct net_device *dev, void *addr)
 {
 	struct sockaddr *sa = addr;
 
+	if (!is_valid_ether_addr(sa->sa_data))
+		return -EINVAL;
+
 	memcpy(dev->dev_addr, sa->sa_data, ETH_ALEN);
 
 	netif_addr_lock_bh(dev);