diff --git a/drivers/char/adsprpc.c b/drivers/char/adsprpc.c
index 32c5c302cbae..550f4c208174 100644
--- a/drivers/char/adsprpc.c
+++ b/drivers/char/adsprpc.c
@@ -1136,9 +1136,11 @@ static int fastrpc_buf_alloc(struct fastrpc_file *fl, size_t size,
 	struct fastrpc_buf *buf = NULL, *fr = NULL;
 	struct hlist_node *n;
 
-	VERIFY(err, size > 0);
-	if (err)
+	VERIFY(err, size > 0 && fl->sctx->smmu.dev);
+	if (err) {
+		err = (fl->sctx->smmu.dev == NULL) ? -ENODEV : err;
 		goto bail;
+	}
 
 	if (!remote) {
 		/* find the smallest buffer that fits in the cache */