diff --git a/src/core/thread/network_data_leader_ftd.cpp b/src/core/thread/network_data_leader_ftd.cpp
index 6f5418cf5..fb358d8d6 100644
--- a/src/core/thread/network_data_leader_ftd.cpp
+++ b/src/core/thread/network_data_leader_ftd.cpp
@@ -862,6 +862,7 @@ otError Leader::AddService(ServiceTlv &aService, uint8_t *aOldTlvs, uint8_t aOld
     NetworkDataTlv *cur;
     NetworkDataTlv *end;
 
+    VerifyOrExit(aService.IsValid(), error = OT_ERROR_PARSE);
     cur = aService.GetSubTlvs();
     end = aService.GetNext();