diff --git a/net/netfilter/nfnetlink_cthelper.c b/net/netfilter/nfnetlink_cthelper.c
index f1460b683d7a..2cbcca9110db 100644
--- a/net/netfilter/nfnetlink_cthelper.c
+++ b/net/netfilter/nfnetlink_cthelper.c
@@ -163,6 +163,8 @@ nfnl_cthelper_expect_policy(struct nf_conntrack_expect_policy *expect_policy,
 		    tb[NFCTH_POLICY_NAME], NF_CT_HELPER_NAME_LEN);
 	expect_policy->max_expected =
 		ntohl(nla_get_be32(tb[NFCTH_POLICY_EXPECT_MAX]));
+	if (!expect_policy->max_expected)
+		expect_policy->max_expected = NF_CT_EXPECT_MAX_CNT;
 	if (expect_policy->max_expected > NF_CT_EXPECT_MAX_CNT)
 		return -EINVAL;