diff --git a/sound/core/pcm_native.c b/sound/core/pcm_native.c
index c08732998a42..eeab8850ed76 100644
--- a/sound/core/pcm_native.c
+++ b/sound/core/pcm_native.c
@@ -2176,6 +2176,12 @@ static int snd_pcm_link(struct snd_pcm_substream *substream, int fd)
 	}
 	pcm_file = f.file->private_data;
 	substream1 = pcm_file->substream;
+
+	if (substream == substream1) {
+		res = -EINVAL;
+		goto _badf;
+	}
+
 	group = kzalloc(sizeof(*group), GFP_KERNEL);
 	if (!group) {
 		res = -ENOMEM;