diff --git a/libfdt/fdt.c b/libfdt/fdt.c
index 3e89307..9fe7cf4 100644
--- a/libfdt/fdt.c
+++ b/libfdt/fdt.c
@@ -90,6 +90,10 @@ int fdt_check_header(const void *fdt)
 {
 	size_t hdrsize;
 
+	/* The device tree must be at an 8-byte aligned address */
+	if ((uintptr_t)fdt & 7)
+		return -FDT_ERR_ALIGNMENT;
+
 	if (fdt_magic(fdt) != FDT_MAGIC)
 		return -FDT_ERR_BADMAGIC;
 	if (!can_assume(LATEST)) {