diff --git a/mm/sparse.c b/mm/sparse.c
index fa933f43b2c..42ca0ea9af1 100644
--- a/mm/sparse.c
+++ b/mm/sparse.c
@@ -130,6 +130,8 @@ int __section_nr(struct mem_section* ms)
 		     break;
 	}
 
+	VM_BUG_ON(root_nr == NR_SECTION_ROOTS);
+
 	return (root_nr * SECTIONS_PER_ROOT) + (ms - root);
 }