diff --git a/core.c b/core.c
index 6131a3c..42ef405 100644
--- a/core.c
+++ b/core.c
@@ -434,6 +434,10 @@
 
 	assert(bus);
 
+	/* Drop packet if it was smaller than mctp hdr size */
+	if (mctp_pktbuf_size(pkt) <= sizeof(struct mctp_hdr))
+		goto out;
+
 	hdr = mctp_pktbuf_hdr(pkt);
 
 	/* small optimisation: don't bother reassembly if we're going to