diff --git a/drivers/rtc/s3c24x0_rtc.c b/drivers/rtc/s3c24x0_rtc.c
index 3fd5cec..bcd6d44 100644
--- a/drivers/rtc/s3c24x0_rtc.c
+++ b/drivers/rtc/s3c24x0_rtc.c
@@ -139,6 +139,11 @@ int rtc_set(struct rtc_time *tmp)
 	       tmp->tm_year, tmp->tm_mon, tmp->tm_mday, tmp->tm_wday,
 	       tmp->tm_hour, tmp->tm_min, tmp->tm_sec);
 #endif
+	if (tmp->tm_year < 1970 || tmp->tm_year > 2069) {
+		puts("ERROR: year should be between 1970 and 2069!\n");
+		return -1;
+	}
+
 	year = bin2bcd(tmp->tm_year % 100);
 	mon  = bin2bcd(tmp->tm_mon);
 	wday = bin2bcd(tmp->tm_wday);