diff --git a/net/ipv4/inet_connection_sock.c b/net/ipv4/inet_connection_sock.c
index 89eedfbd4ad53..514b9e910bd4e 100644
--- a/net/ipv4/inet_connection_sock.c
+++ b/net/ipv4/inet_connection_sock.c
@@ -579,7 +579,7 @@ static void reqsk_timer_handler(unsigned long data)
 	 * ones are about to clog our table.
 	 */
 	qlen = reqsk_queue_len(queue);
-	if ((qlen << 1) > sk_listener->sk_max_ack_backlog) {
+	if ((qlen << 1) > max(8U, sk_listener->sk_max_ack_backlog)) {
 		int young = reqsk_queue_len_young(queue) << 1;
 
 		while (thresh > 2) {