diff --git a/net/netfilter/nfnetlink_cthelper.c b/net/netfilter/nfnetlink_cthelper.c
index 2cbcca9110db..f062ac210343 100644
--- a/net/netfilter/nfnetlink_cthelper.c
+++ b/net/netfilter/nfnetlink_cthelper.c
@@ -316,6 +316,8 @@ nfnl_cthelper_update_policy_one(const struct nf_conntrack_expect_policy *policy,
 
 	new_policy->max_expected =
 		ntohl(nla_get_be32(tb[NFCTH_POLICY_EXPECT_MAX]));
+	if (!new_policy->max_expected)
+		new_policy->max_expected = NF_CT_EXPECT_MAX_CNT;
 	if (new_policy->max_expected > NF_CT_EXPECT_MAX_CNT)
 		return -EINVAL;