diff --git a/arch/ia64/sn/pci/pcibr/pcibr_ate.c b/arch/ia64/sn/pci/pcibr/pcibr_ate.c
index 239b3cedcf2bf..5bc34eac9e019 100644
--- a/arch/ia64/sn/pci/pcibr/pcibr_ate.c
+++ b/arch/ia64/sn/pci/pcibr/pcibr_ate.c
@@ -54,6 +54,8 @@ static int find_free_ate(struct ate_resource *ate_resource, int start,
 					break;
 				}
 			}
+			if (i >= ate_resource->num_ate)
+				return -1;
 		} else
 			index++;	/* Try next ate */
 	}