diff --git a/drivers/video/fbdev/riva/fbdev.c b/drivers/video/fbdev/riva/fbdev.c
index 1ea78bb911fbb8..c080d14f9d2a2e 100644
--- a/drivers/video/fbdev/riva/fbdev.c
+++ b/drivers/video/fbdev/riva/fbdev.c
@@ -1088,6 +1088,9 @@ static int rivafb_check_var(struct fb_var_screeninfo *var, struct fb_info *info)
 	int mode_valid = 0;
 	
 	NVTRACE_ENTER();
+	if (!var->pixclock)
+		return -EINVAL;
+
 	switch (var->bits_per_pixel) {
 	case 1 ... 8:
 		var->red.offset = var->green.offset = var->blue.offset = 0;