diff --git a/common/retry/retry.go b/common/retry/retry.go
index 3189c4c97..38e2ba88d 100644
--- a/common/retry/retry.go
+++ b/common/retry/retry.go
@@ -94,6 +94,9 @@ type Backoff struct {
 //  n = n * Multiplier.
 // the first value of n is InitialBackoff. n is maxed by MaxBackoff.
 func (lb *Backoff) Linear() time.Duration {
+	if lb.InitialBackoff > lb.MaxBackoff {
+		panic("InitialBackoff > MaxBackoff, did you forgot setting the seconds ?")
+	}
 	wait := lb.InitialBackoff
 	lb.InitialBackoff = time.Duration(lb.Multiplier * float64(lb.InitialBackoff))
 	if lb.MaxBackoff != 0 && lb.InitialBackoff > lb.MaxBackoff {