diff --git a/net/irda/irnet/irnet_ppp.c b/net/irda/irnet/irnet_ppp.c
index 7c567b8aa89..2bb2beb6a37 100644
--- a/net/irda/irnet/irnet_ppp.c
+++ b/net/irda/irnet/irnet_ppp.c
@@ -105,6 +105,9 @@ irnet_ctrl_write(irnet_socket *	ap,
 	      while(isspace(start[length - 1]))
 		length--;
 
+	      DABORT(length < 5 || length > NICKNAME_MAX_LEN + 5,
+		     -EINVAL, CTRL_ERROR, "Invalid nickname.\n");
+
 	      /* Copy the name for later reuse */
 	      memcpy(ap->rname, start + 5, length - 5);
 	      ap->rname[length - 5] = '\0';