diff --git a/dsp/avtimer.c b/dsp/avtimer.c
index 8d9402c91730..39b5268ef78e 100644
--- a/dsp/avtimer.c
+++ b/dsp/avtimer.c
@@ -89,6 +89,13 @@ static int32_t aprv2_core_fn_q(struct apr_client_data *data, void *priv)
 		}
 
 		payload1 = data->payload;
+
+		if (data->payload_size < 2 * sizeof(uint32_t)) {
+			pr_err("%s: payload has invalid size %d\n",
+				__func__, data->payload_size);
+			return -EINVAL;
+		}
+
 		switch (payload1[0]) {
 		case AVCS_CMD_REMOTE_AVTIMER_RELEASE_REQUEST:
 			pr_debug("%s: Cmd = TIMER RELEASE status[0x%x]\n",
@@ -114,6 +121,11 @@ static int32_t aprv2_core_fn_q(struct apr_client_data *data, void *priv)
 	}
 
 	case AVCS_CMD_RSP_REMOTE_AVTIMER_VOTE_REQUEST:
+		if (data->payload_size < sizeof(uint32_t)) {
+			pr_err("%s: payload has invalid size %d\n",
+				__func__, data->payload_size);
+			return -EINVAL;
+		}
 		payload1 = data->payload;
 		pr_debug("%s: RSP_REMOTE_AVTIMER_VOTE_REQUEST handle %x\n",
 			__func__, payload1[0]);