diff --git a/drivers/net/wan/lapbether.c b/drivers/net/wan/lapbether.c
index f357a7ac70ac..e63737a5d857 100644
--- a/drivers/net/wan/lapbether.c
+++ b/drivers/net/wan/lapbether.c
@@ -386,7 +386,7 @@ static int lapbeth_new_device(struct net_device *dev)
 
 	ASSERT_RTNL();
 
-	if (dev->type != ARPHRD_ETHER)
+	if (dev->type != ARPHRD_ETHER || dev->addr_len != ETH_ALEN)
 		return -EINVAL;
 
 	ndev = alloc_netdev(sizeof(*lapbeth), "lapb%d", NET_NAME_UNKNOWN,