retval = cpulist_parse(buf, trialcs.cpus_allowed);
                if (retval < 0)
                        return retval;
+
+               if (!cpus_subset(trialcs.cpus_allowed, cpu_online_map))
+                       return -EINVAL;
        }
-       cpus_and(trialcs.cpus_allowed, trialcs.cpus_allowed, cpu_online_map);
        retval = validate_change(cs, &trialcs);
        if (retval < 0)
                return retval;
                retval = nodelist_parse(buf, trialcs.mems_allowed);
                if (retval < 0)
                        goto done;
+
+               if (!nodes_subset(trialcs.mems_allowed,
+                               node_states[N_HIGH_MEMORY]))
+                       return -EINVAL;
        }
-       nodes_and(trialcs.mems_allowed, trialcs.mems_allowed,
-                                               node_states[N_HIGH_MEMORY]);
        oldmem = cs->mems_allowed;
        if (nodes_equal(oldmem, trialcs.mems_allowed)) {
                retval = 0;             /* Too easy - nothing to do */