diff --git a/drivers/gpu/drm/display/drm_dp_mst_topology.c b/drivers/gpu/drm/display/drm_dp_mst_topology.c
index 01350510244f..5861b0a6247b 100644
--- a/drivers/gpu/drm/display/drm_dp_mst_topology.c
+++ b/drivers/gpu/drm/display/drm_dp_mst_topology.c
@@ -3309,8 +3309,13 @@ int drm_dp_add_payload_part1(struct drm_dp_mst_topology_mgr *mgr,
 	int ret;
 
 	port = drm_dp_mst_topology_get_port_validated(mgr, payload->port);
-	if (!port)
+	if (!port) {
+		drm_dbg_kms(mgr->dev,
+			    "VCPI %d for port %p not in topology, not creating a payload\n",
+			    payload->vcpi, payload->port);
+		payload->vc_start_slot = -1;
 		return 0;
+	}
 
 	if (mgr->payload_count == 0)
 		mgr->next_start_slot = mst_state->start_slot;