diff --git a/drivers/usb/gadget/udc/udc-core.c b/drivers/usb/gadget/udc/udc-core.c
index f107bb60a5ab3b..f2054659f25b8e 100644
--- a/drivers/usb/gadget/udc/udc-core.c
+++ b/drivers/usb/gadget/udc/udc-core.c
@@ -507,6 +507,11 @@ static ssize_t usb_udc_softconn_store(struct device *dev,
 {
 	struct usb_udc		*udc = container_of(dev, struct usb_udc, dev);
 
+	if (!udc->driver) {
+		dev_err(dev, "soft-connect without a gadget driver\n");
+		return -EOPNOTSUPP;
+	}
+
 	if (sysfs_streq(buf, "connect")) {
 		usb_gadget_udc_start(udc->gadget, udc->driver);
 		usb_gadget_connect(udc->gadget);