diff --git a/net/ethtool/mm.c b/net/ethtool/mm.c
index e00d7d5cea7e..4058a557b5a4 100644
--- a/net/ethtool/mm.c
+++ b/net/ethtool/mm.c
@@ -214,6 +214,16 @@ static int ethnl_set_mm(struct ethnl_req_info *req_info, struct genl_info *info)
 		return -ERANGE;
 	}
 
+	if (cfg.verify_enabled && !cfg.tx_enabled) {
+		NL_SET_ERR_MSG(extack, "Verification requires TX enabled");
+		return -EINVAL;
+	}
+
+	if (cfg.tx_enabled && !cfg.pmac_enabled) {
+		NL_SET_ERR_MSG(extack, "TX enabled requires pMAC enabled");
+		return -EINVAL;
+	}
+
 	ret = dev->ethtool_ops->set_mm(dev, &cfg, extack);
 	return ret < 0 ? ret : 1;
 }