diff --git a/src/network/bridge_driver.c b/src/network/bridge_driver.c
index 3d6721b9b5..2c8b3b5fe7 100644
--- a/src/network/bridge_driver.c
+++ b/src/network/bridge_driver.c
@@ -3615,9 +3615,16 @@ networkGetDHCPLeases(virNetworkPtr network,
     virNetworkDHCPLeasePtr lease = NULL;
     virNetworkDHCPLeasePtr *leases_ret = NULL;
     virNetworkObjPtr obj;
+    virMacAddr mac_addr;
 
     virCheckFlags(0, -1);
 
+    /* only to check if the MAC is valid */
+    if (mac && virMacAddrParse(mac, &mac_addr) < 0) {
+        virReportError(VIR_ERR_INVALID_MAC, "%s", mac);
+        return -1;
+    }
+
     if (!(obj = networkObjFromNetwork(network)))
         return -1;