diff --git a/scripts/mod/modpost.c b/scripts/mod/modpost.c
index fb7f75fa786b..78ac98cfa02d 100644
--- a/scripts/mod/modpost.c
+++ b/scripts/mod/modpost.c
@@ -1621,7 +1621,7 @@ static void default_mismatch_handler(const char *modname, struct elf_info *elf,
 
 static int is_executable_section(struct elf_info* elf, unsigned int section_index)
 {
-	if (section_index > elf->num_sections)
+	if (section_index >= elf->num_sections)
 		fatal("section_index is outside elf->num_sections!\n");
 
 	return ((elf->sechdrs[section_index].sh_flags & SHF_EXECINSTR) == SHF_EXECINSTR);