diff --git a/include/linux/mtd/rawnand.h b/include/linux/mtd/rawnand.h
index 8fb488d586d6..c433f093766a 100644
--- a/include/linux/mtd/rawnand.h
+++ b/include/linux/mtd/rawnand.h
@@ -1234,6 +1234,8 @@ int onfi_init_data_interface(struct nand_chip *chip,
  */
 static inline bool nand_is_slc(struct nand_chip *chip)
 {
+	WARN(chip->bits_per_cell == 0,
+	     "chip->bits_per_cell is used uninitialized\n");
 	return chip->bits_per_cell == 1;
 }