diff --git a/fs/jffs2/compr_rtime.c b/fs/jffs2/compr_rtime.c
index 406d9cc84ba8..79e771ab624f 100644
--- a/fs/jffs2/compr_rtime.c
+++ b/fs/jffs2/compr_rtime.c
@@ -37,6 +37,9 @@ static int jffs2_rtime_compress(unsigned char *data_in,
 	int outpos = 0;
 	int pos=0;
 
+	if (*dstlen <= 3)
+		return -1;
+
 	memset(positions,0,sizeof(positions));
 
 	while (pos < (*sourcelen) && outpos <= (*dstlen)-2) {