diff --git a/sound/soc/fsl/fsl_esai.c b/sound/soc/fsl/fsl_esai.c
index da8fd98c7f51..d79e99ef31ad 100644
--- a/sound/soc/fsl/fsl_esai.c
+++ b/sound/soc/fsl/fsl_esai.c
@@ -226,6 +226,12 @@ static int fsl_esai_set_dai_sysclk(struct snd_soc_dai *dai, int clk_id,
 	unsigned long clk_rate;
 	int ret;
 
+	if (freq == 0) {
+		dev_err(dai->dev, "%sput freq of HCK%c should not be 0Hz\n",
+			in ? "in" : "out", tx ? 'T' : 'R');
+		return -EINVAL;
+	}
+
 	/* Bypass divider settings if the requirement doesn't change */
 	if (freq == esai_priv->hck_rate[tx] && dir == esai_priv->hck_dir[tx])
 		return 0;