diff --git a/lustre/llite/llite_lib.c b/lustre/llite/llite_lib.c
index bc4172308303cf1513e37ab6918d322dc3e0fe68..36b025091ed067e98974fff49111017e019f94ea 100644
--- a/lustre/llite/llite_lib.c
+++ b/lustre/llite/llite_lib.c
@@ -510,6 +510,10 @@ int lustre_fill_super(struct super_block *sb, void *data, int silent)
         ENTRY;
 
         CDEBUG(D_VFSTRACE, "VFS Op: sb %p\n", sb);
+        if (lmd == NULL) {
+                CERROR("lustre_mount_data is NULL: check that /sbin/mount.lustre exists?\n");
+                RETURN(-EINVAL);
+        }
         sbi = lustre_init_sbi(sb);
         if (!sbi)
                 RETURN(-ENOMEM);