diff --git a/net/sunrpc/xprtrdma/rpc_rdma.c b/net/sunrpc/xprtrdma/rpc_rdma.c
index 63e64d53e289..5ff086ccd259 100644
--- a/net/sunrpc/xprtrdma/rpc_rdma.c
+++ b/net/sunrpc/xprtrdma/rpc_rdma.c
@@ -1472,6 +1472,14 @@ void rpcrdma_reply_handler(struct rpcrdma_rep *rep)
 	credits = be32_to_cpu(*p++);
 	rep->rr_proc = *p++;
 
+	/* The credit grant from the wire is not trustworthy;
+	 * sanitize it before any code path consumes it.
+	 */
+	if (credits == 0)
+		credits = 1;	/* don't deadlock */
+	else if (credits > r_xprt->rx_ep->re_max_requests)
+		credits = r_xprt->rx_ep->re_max_requests;
+
 	if (rep->rr_vers != rpcrdma_version)
 		goto out_badversion;
 
@@ -1488,10 +1496,6 @@ void rpcrdma_reply_handler(struct rpcrdma_rep *rep)
 	xprt_pin_rqst(rqst);
 	spin_unlock(&xprt->queue_lock);
 
-	if (credits == 0)
-		credits = 1;	/* don't deadlock */
-	else if (credits > r_xprt->rx_ep->re_max_requests)
-		credits = r_xprt->rx_ep->re_max_requests;
 	if (buf->rb_credits != credits)
 		rpcrdma_update_cwnd(r_xprt, credits);