diff --git a/init/do_mounts_rd.c b/init/do_mounts_rd.c
index 6be2879cca66..143e98de6f29 100644
--- a/init/do_mounts_rd.c
+++ b/init/do_mounts_rd.c
@@ -342,6 +342,13 @@ static int __init crd_load(int in_fd, int out_fd, decompress_fn deco)
 	int result;
 	crd_infd = in_fd;
 	crd_outfd = out_fd;
+
+	if (!deco) {
+		pr_emerg("Invalid ramdisk decompression routine.  "
+			 "Select appropriate config option.\n");
+		panic("Could not decompress initial ramdisk image.");
+	}
+
 	result = deco(NULL, 0, compr_fill, compr_flush, NULL, NULL, error);
 	if (decompress_error)
 		result = 1;