diff --git a/drivers/of/overlay.c b/drivers/of/overlay.c
index 7827786718d8..c0e4ee1cd1ba 100644
--- a/drivers/of/overlay.c
+++ b/drivers/of/overlay.c
@@ -132,6 +132,10 @@ static int of_overlay_apply_single_device_node(struct of_overlay *ov,
 	/* NOTE: Multiple mods of created nodes not supported */
 	tchild = of_get_child_by_name(target, cname);
 	if (tchild != NULL) {
+		/* new overlay phandle value conflicts with existing value */
+		if (child->phandle)
+			return -EINVAL;
+
 		/* apply overlay recursively */
 		ret = of_overlay_apply_one(ov, tchild, child);
 		of_node_put(tchild);