diff --git a/drivers/net/netconsole.c b/drivers/net/netconsole.c
index f58643bdafc5..fffffa3658d2 100644
--- a/drivers/net/netconsole.c
+++ b/drivers/net/netconsole.c
@@ -278,6 +278,8 @@ static void trim_newline(char *s, size_t maxlen)
 	size_t len;
 
 	len = strnlen(s, maxlen);
+	if (!len)
+		return;
 	if (s[len - 1] == '\n')
 		s[len - 1] = '\0';
 }