diff --git a/drivers/nvme/host/tcp.c b/drivers/nvme/host/tcp.c
index 46c2acc6abe0..62c5e38f5207 100644
--- a/drivers/nvme/host/tcp.c
+++ b/drivers/nvme/host/tcp.c
@@ -779,6 +779,13 @@ static int nvme_tcp_handle_r2t(struct nvme_tcp_queue *queue,
 	}
 	req = blk_mq_rq_to_pdu(rq);
 
+	if (unlikely(rq_data_dir(rq) != WRITE)) {
+		dev_err(queue->ctrl->ctrl.device,
+			"req %d unexpected r2t for a non-write command\n",
+			rq->tag);
+		return -EPROTO;
+	}
+
 	if (unlikely(!r2t_length)) {
 		dev_err(queue->ctrl->ctrl.device,
 			"req %d r2t len is %u, probably a bug...\n",