diff --git a/src/app-layer-smtp.c b/src/app-layer-smtp.c
index 139533468f..d95bc73896 100644
--- a/src/app-layer-smtp.c
+++ b/src/app-layer-smtp.c
@@ -4494,6 +4494,13 @@ int SMTPParserTest14(void)
         SCMutexUnlock(&f.m);
         goto end;
     }
+
+    if ((smtp_state->helo_len != 7) || strncmp("boo.com", (char *)smtp_state->helo, 7)) {
+        printf("incorrect parsing of HELO field '%s' (%d)\n", smtp_state->helo, smtp_state->helo_len);
+        SCMutexUnlock(&f.m);
+        goto end;
+    }
+
     SCMutexUnlock(&f.m);
     if (smtp_state->input_len != 0 ||
             smtp_state->cmds_cnt != 0 ||