diff --git a/sound/core/control.c b/sound/core/control.c
index 070aab490191..45a818002d99 100644
--- a/sound/core/control.c
+++ b/sound/core/control.c
@@ -31,6 +31,7 @@
 
 /* max number of user-defined controls */
 #define MAX_USER_CONTROLS	32
+#define MAX_CONTROL_COUNT	1028
 
 struct snd_kctl_ioctl {
 	struct list_head list;		/* list of all ioctls */
@@ -195,6 +196,10 @@ static struct snd_kcontrol *snd_ctl_new(struct snd_kcontrol *control,
 	
 	if (snd_BUG_ON(!control || !control->count))
 		return NULL;
+
+	if (control->count > MAX_CONTROL_COUNT)
+		return NULL;
+
 	kctl = kzalloc(sizeof(*kctl) + sizeof(struct snd_kcontrol_volatile) * control->count, GFP_KERNEL);
 	if (kctl == NULL) {
 		snd_printk(KERN_ERR "Cannot allocate control instance\n");