diff --git a/src/firmware-update.cpp b/src/firmware-update.cpp
index 3f17dac..ea51288 100644
--- a/src/firmware-update.cpp
+++ b/src/firmware-update.cpp
@@ -1359,6 +1359,12 @@
         break;
         case FwUpdateCtrlReq::imageTransferComplete:
         {
+            if (!imageTransferStarted)
+            {
+                phosphor::logging::log<phosphor::logging::level::ERR>(
+                    "transferFirmwareUpdate not started.");
+                return ipmi::responseNotSupportedInPresentState();
+            }
             phosphor::logging::log<phosphor::logging::level::INFO>(
                 "ipmiGetSetFirmwareUpdateControl: Set transfer complete.");
             if (usbAttached)