diff --git a/hw/ssi/mss-spi.c b/hw/ssi/mss-spi.c
index 918b1f3e82..4c9da5d2b2 100644
--- a/hw/ssi/mss-spi.c
+++ b/hw/ssi/mss-spi.c
@@ -165,7 +165,13 @@ spi_read(void *opaque, hwaddr addr, unsigned int size)
     case R_SPI_RX:
         s->regs[R_SPI_STATUS] &= ~S_RXFIFOFUL;
         s->regs[R_SPI_STATUS] &= ~S_RXCHOVRF;
-        ret = fifo32_pop(&s->rx_fifo);
+        if (fifo32_is_empty(&s->rx_fifo)) {
+            qemu_log_mask(LOG_GUEST_ERROR,
+                          "%s: Reading empty RX_FIFO\n",
+                          __func__);
+        } else {
+            ret = fifo32_pop(&s->rx_fifo);
+        }
         if (fifo32_is_empty(&s->rx_fifo)) {
             s->regs[R_SPI_STATUS] |= S_RXFIFOEMP;
         }