diff --git a/net/ipv4/tcp.c b/net/ipv4/tcp.c
index 6589e11..d6feb1e 100644
--- a/net/ipv4/tcp.c
+++ b/net/ipv4/tcp.c
@@ -2408,7 +2408,10 @@
 		/* Cap the max timeout in ms TCP will retry/retrans
 		 * before giving up and aborting (ETIMEDOUT) a connection.
 		 */
-		icsk->icsk_user_timeout = msecs_to_jiffies(val);
+		if (val < 0)
+			err = -EINVAL;
+		else
+			icsk->icsk_user_timeout = msecs_to_jiffies(val);
 		break;
 	default:
 		err = -ENOPROTOOPT;