diff --git a/src/core/api/link_api.cpp b/src/core/api/link_api.cpp
index 803bb4114..baa718c33 100644
--- a/src/core/api/link_api.cpp
+++ b/src/core/api/link_api.cpp
@@ -54,7 +54,7 @@ otError otLinkSetChannel(otInstance *aInstance, uint8_t aChannel)
     VerifyOrExit(aInstance->mThreadNetif.GetMle().GetRole() == OT_DEVICE_ROLE_DISABLED,
                  error = OT_ERROR_INVALID_STATE);
 
-    error = aInstance->mThreadNetif.GetMac().SetChannel(aChannel);
+    SuccessOrExit(error = aInstance->mThreadNetif.GetMac().SetChannel(aChannel));
     aInstance->mThreadNetif.GetActiveDataset().Clear();
     aInstance->mThreadNetif.GetPendingDataset().Clear();
 
diff --git a/src/core/mac/mac.cpp b/src/core/mac/mac.cpp
index 0ee80de77..ef64b7b33 100644
--- a/src/core/mac/mac.cpp
+++ b/src/core/mac/mac.cpp
@@ -475,7 +475,12 @@ otError Mac::SetShortAddress(ShortAddress aShortAddress)
 
 otError Mac::SetChannel(uint8_t aChannel)
 {
+    otError error = OT_ERROR_NONE;
+
     otLogFuncEntryMsg("%d", aChannel);
+
+    VerifyOrExit(OT_RADIO_CHANNEL_MIN <= aChannel && aChannel <= OT_RADIO_CHANNEL_MAX, error = OT_ERROR_INVALID_ARGS);
+
     mChannel = aChannel;
 
     if (mState == kStateIdle)
@@ -483,8 +488,9 @@ otError Mac::SetChannel(uint8_t aChannel)
         NextOperation();
     }
 
+exit:
     otLogFuncExit();
-    return OT_ERROR_NONE;
+    return error;
 }
 
 otError Mac::SetNetworkName(const char *aNetworkName)