diff --git a/drivers/media/video/v4l2-dev.c b/drivers/media/video/v4l2-dev.c
index 0320fb84119c..155fdec9ac7d 100644
--- a/drivers/media/video/v4l2-dev.c
+++ b/drivers/media/video/v4l2-dev.c
@@ -257,6 +257,9 @@ int video_register_device_index(struct video_device *vfd, int type, int nr,
 	int ret;
 	char *name_base;
 
+	if (vfd == NULL)
+		return -EINVAL;
+
 	switch (type) {
 	case VFL_TYPE_GRABBER:
 		base = MINOR_VFL_TYPE_GRABBER_MIN;