diff --git a/fs/exec.c b/fs/exec.c
index ac7b51b51f38..29e865c59854 100644
--- a/fs/exec.c
+++ b/fs/exec.c
@@ -494,8 +494,14 @@ static int bprm_stack_limits(struct linux_binprm *bprm)
 	 * the stack. They aren't stored until much later when we can't
 	 * signal to the parent that the child has run out of stack space.
 	 * Instead, calculate it here so it's possible to fail gracefully.
+	 *
+	 * In the case of argc = 0, make sure there is space for adding a
+	 * empty string (which will bump argc to 1), to ensure confused
+	 * userspace programs don't start processing from argv[1], thinking
+	 * argc can never be 0, to keep them from walking envp by accident.
+	 * See do_execveat_common().
 	 */
-	ptr_size = (bprm->argc + bprm->envc) * sizeof(void *);
+	ptr_size = (max(bprm->argc, 1) + bprm->envc) * sizeof(void *);
 	if (limit <= ptr_size)
 		return -E2BIG;
 	limit -= ptr_size;
@@ -1895,6 +1901,9 @@ static int do_execveat_common(int fd, struct filename *filename,
 	}
 
 	retval = count(argv, MAX_ARG_STRINGS);
+	if (retval == 0)
+		pr_warn_once("process '%s' launched '%s' with NULL argv: empty string added\n",
+			     current->comm, bprm->filename);
 	if (retval < 0)
 		goto out_free;
 	bprm->argc = retval;
@@ -1921,6 +1930,19 @@ static int do_execveat_common(int fd, struct filename *filename,
 	if (retval < 0)
 		goto out_free;
 
+	/*
+	 * When argv is empty, add an empty string ("") as argv[0] to
+	 * ensure confused userspace programs that start processing
+	 * from argv[1] won't end up walking envp. See also
+	 * bprm_stack_limits().
+	 */
+	if (bprm->argc == 0) {
+		retval = copy_string_kernel("", bprm);
+		if (retval < 0)
+			goto out_free;
+		bprm->argc = 1;
+	}
+
 	retval = bprm_execve(bprm, fd, filename, flags);
 out_free:
 	free_bprm(bprm);
@@ -1949,6 +1971,8 @@ int kernel_execve(const char *kernel_filename,
 	}
 
 	retval = count_strings_kernel(argv);
+	if (WARN_ON_ONCE(retval == 0))
+		retval = -EINVAL;
 	if (retval < 0)
 		goto out_free;
 	bprm->argc = retval;