diff --git a/gst/gstbufferpool.c b/gst/gstbufferpool.c
index c6ced21e06..6a99b80dc6 100644
--- a/gst/gstbufferpool.c
+++ b/gst/gstbufferpool.c
@@ -645,6 +645,7 @@ gst_buffer_pool_config_set_params (GstStructure * config, const GstCaps * caps,
     guint size, guint min_buffers, guint max_buffers)
 {
   g_return_if_fail (config != NULL);
+  g_return_if_fail (max_buffers == 0 || min_buffers <= max_buffers);
 
   gst_structure_id_set (config,
       GST_QUARK (CAPS), GST_TYPE_CAPS, caps,