diff --git a/io_uring/zcrx.c b/io_uring/zcrx.c
index 2eb09219f0a0..7b93c87b8371 100644
--- a/io_uring/zcrx.c
+++ b/io_uring/zcrx.c
@@ -602,6 +602,8 @@ static void io_zcrx_return_niov_freelist(struct net_iov *niov)
 	struct io_zcrx_area *area = io_zcrx_iov_to_area(niov);
 
 	guard(spinlock_bh)(&area->freelist_lock);
+	if (WARN_ON_ONCE(area->free_count >= area->nia.num_niovs))
+		return;
 	area->freelist[area->free_count++] = net_iov_idx(niov);
 }