diff --git a/kernel/cgroup/cgroup-v1.c b/kernel/cgroup/cgroup-v1.c
index 32596fdbcd5b..a5751784ad74 100644
--- a/kernel/cgroup/cgroup-v1.c
+++ b/kernel/cgroup/cgroup-v1.c
@@ -917,6 +917,9 @@ int cgroup1_parse_param(struct fs_context *fc, struct fs_parameter *param)
 		for_each_subsys(ss, i) {
 			if (strcmp(param->key, ss->legacy_name))
 				continue;
+			if (!cgroup_ssid_enabled(i) || cgroup1_ssid_disabled(i))
+				return invalfc(fc, "Disabled controller '%s'",
+					       param->key);
 			ctx->subsys_mask |= (1 << i);
 			return 0;
 		}