diff --git a/drivers/net/ppp/ppp_async.c b/drivers/net/ppp/ppp_async.c
index a940b9a67107..c97406c6004d 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ppp/ppp_async.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ppp/ppp_async.c
@@ -542,7 +542,7 @@ ppp_async_encode(struct asyncppp *ap)
 	 * and 7 (code-reject) must be sent as though no options
 	 * had been negotiated.
 	 */
-	islcp = proto == PPP_LCP && 1 <= data[2] && data[2] <= 7;
+	islcp = proto == PPP_LCP && count >= 3 && 1 <= data[2] && data[2] <= 7;
 
 	if (i == 0) {
 		if (islcp)