diff --git a/drivers/media/i2c/ov9650.c b/drivers/media/i2c/ov9650.c
index 5bea31cd41aa1e63b3e024e0ce9d55624d633b7e..33a21d585dc9c2b9eaee1dbd564ea7ef6b8994f7 100644
--- a/drivers/media/i2c/ov9650.c
+++ b/drivers/media/i2c/ov9650.c
@@ -716,6 +716,11 @@ static int ov965x_set_gain(struct ov965x *ov965x, int auto_gain)
 		for (m = 6; m >= 0; m--)
 			if (gain >= (1 << m) * 16)
 				break;
+
+		/* Sanity check: don't adjust the gain with a negative value */
+		if (m < 0)
+			return -EINVAL;
+
 		rgain = (gain - ((1 << m) * 16)) / (1 << m);
 		rgain |= (((1 << m) - 1) << 4);