diff --git a/net/sched/sch_hfsc.c b/net/sched/sch_hfsc.c
index 70b0c5873d326..61d52594ff6d8 100644
--- a/net/sched/sch_hfsc.c
+++ b/net/sched/sch_hfsc.c
@@ -1012,6 +1012,10 @@ hfsc_change_class(struct Qdisc *sch, u32 classid, u32 parentid,
 		if (parent == NULL)
 			return -ENOENT;
 	}
+	if (!(parent->cl_flags & HFSC_FSC) && parent != &q->root) {
+		NL_SET_ERR_MSG(extack, "Invalid parent - parent class must have FSC");
+		return -EINVAL;
+	}
 
 	if (classid == 0 || TC_H_MAJ(classid ^ sch->handle) != 0)
 		return -EINVAL;