diff --git a/plat/arm/board/arm_fpga/fpga_pm.c b/plat/arm/board/arm_fpga/fpga_pm.c
index 4c372179f0b23c65ab8dcd31c176f86ee8904c16..a306a23d4a6c77b6f7142a7b87b105e345a9f827 100644
--- a/plat/arm/board/arm_fpga/fpga_pm.c
+++ b/plat/arm/board/arm_fpga/fpga_pm.c
@@ -41,9 +41,13 @@ uintptr_t fpga_sec_entrypoint;
  */
 static int fpga_pwr_domain_on(u_register_t mpidr)
 {
-	unsigned int pos = plat_core_pos_by_mpidr(mpidr);
+	int pos = plat_core_pos_by_mpidr(mpidr);
 	unsigned long current_mpidr = read_mpidr_el1();
 
+	if (pos < 0) {
+		panic();
+	}
+
 	if (mpidr == current_mpidr) {
 		return PSCI_E_ALREADY_ON;
 	}