diff --git a/src/drivers/distance_sensor/ll40ls/LidarLiteI2C.cpp b/src/drivers/distance_sensor/ll40ls/LidarLiteI2C.cpp
index 8f5752604f38..3f62973fa6ab 100644
--- a/src/drivers/distance_sensor/ll40ls/LidarLiteI2C.cpp
+++ b/src/drivers/distance_sensor/ll40ls/LidarLiteI2C.cpp
@@ -206,8 +206,8 @@ int LidarLiteI2C::probe()
 			  check for hw and sw versions. It would be better if
 			  we had a proper WHOAMI register
 			 */
-			if (read_reg(LL40LS_HW_VERSION, _hw_version) == OK &&
-			    read_reg(LL40LS_SW_VERSION, _sw_version) == OK) {
+			if (read_reg(LL40LS_HW_VERSION, _hw_version) == OK && _hw_version > 0 &&
+			    read_reg(LL40LS_SW_VERSION, _sw_version) == OK && _sw_version > 0) {
 				set_maximum_distance(LL40LS_MAX_DISTANCE_V1);
 				goto ok;
 			}