diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/mellanox/mlx5/core/en_tc.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/mellanox/mlx5/core/en_tc.c
index 3e78a727f3e68..8c4bce940bfbc 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/mellanox/mlx5/core/en_tc.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/mellanox/mlx5/core/en_tc.c
@@ -3423,6 +3423,12 @@ static int parse_tc_fdb_actions(struct mlx5e_priv *priv,
 		attr->action |= MLX5_FLOW_CONTEXT_ACTION_FWD_DEST;
 	}
 
+	if (!(attr->action &
+	      (MLX5_FLOW_CONTEXT_ACTION_FWD_DEST | MLX5_FLOW_CONTEXT_ACTION_DROP))) {
+		NL_SET_ERR_MSG(extack, "Rule must have at least one forward/drop action");
+		return -EOPNOTSUPP;
+	}
+
 	if (attr->split_count > 0 && !mlx5_esw_has_fwd_fdb(priv->mdev)) {
 		NL_SET_ERR_MSG_MOD(extack,
 				   "current firmware doesn't support split rule for port mirroring");