diff --git a/modules/core/src/matrix.cpp b/modules/core/src/matrix.cpp
index 7b6c3f497f..5f4f91dc43 100644
--- a/modules/core/src/matrix.cpp
+++ b/modules/core/src/matrix.cpp
@@ -895,7 +895,7 @@ Mat::Mat(Size _sz, int _type, void* _data, size_t _step)
 
     size_t esz = CV_ELEM_SIZE(_type), esz1 = CV_ELEM_SIZE1(_type);
     size_t minstep = cols*esz;
-    if( _step == AUTO_STEP )
+    if( _step == AUTO_STEP || (_step < minstep && rows == 1))
     {
         _step = minstep;
     }
diff --git a/modules/imgproc/test/test_imgwarp.cpp b/modules/imgproc/test/test_imgwarp.cpp
index deb5791f29..aded7bb74e 100644
--- a/modules/imgproc/test/test_imgwarp.cpp
+++ b/modules/imgproc/test/test_imgwarp.cpp
@@ -1200,5 +1200,17 @@ TEST(Imgproc_Remap, issue_23562)
     }
 }
 
+TEST(Imgproc_Resize, issue_26497)
+{
+    std::vector<float> vec = {0.f, 1.f, 2.f, 3.f};
+    Mat A(vec), B;
+    resize(A, B, Size(2,2), 0, 0, INTER_LINEAR);
+    double minv = 0, maxv = 0;
+    cvtest::minMaxIdx(B, &minv, &maxv, nullptr, nullptr, noArray());
+    EXPECT_EQ(B.size(), Size(2, 2));
+    EXPECT_LE(0., minv);
+    EXPECT_LE(maxv, 3.);
+}
+
 }} // namespace
 /* End of file. */